The Washington times., 1920-08-04

they beat him AZ l0icoo anu NV
open? He finished. II seems, fifl
Hagen speaks for himself on the
latter. ~
cit was my nrst try for the British
pitie," he says. "and from the time u
was announced l was going over
there was much discussion on my
chances. ! got all kinds OF oaers
Amounting 10 fabulous sums X n
should win. My friends were laying
big bets on me. and every way
Imaginable II was distinctly up To me
TO win. But 1 tried tosforget' IL ana
play, my game over there
Hagen said that he was spiepdidiy
received abroad and that his preiimi-
nary work. with that OF Barnes. was
closely followed by the Britons
mad A CHANCE.
n.Whens we beat, Mitchell and Dun
can I realized we had a real chance
continued the champion, "and quaiify-
ing in fourth place for the open gave
me great satisfaction. But my play
the day before the open at Deal was
very bad. Ny shots weren't going
and the horrible thought came TO me
that / might do as badly the next
day"
He did. He finished that disastrous
day nineteen strokes behind the lead
er, hopelessly removed from any
chance for the title. Hagen was In
the rough on twelve holes In his first
round. slices and hooks being aided
by the winds.
Hagen said the course AT Deal. on
the Channel, is devoid of trees. and
ri .
gales The turf of the liberal fair
ways Is described as Drowned by the
sun, particularly along the coast
holes.
LAID THROUGH DUNES.
The course was laid out through
the great dunes which provide the
undulstions and most OF the hazards,
though there are a a'few traps cut out.
Where there is a level place among
the dunes, a green has been placed,
the natural grass having been cut
close for the putting carpet.
None of the greens Were built in,
of special earth and seeding. it is
said. The fairway is a constant sue
cession of bumps, hollows and I'M
duiations. The run-up approach pre-
walls. not a Hagen pitch. Those who
witnessed the play blame the weather
and the conditions of the course en-
tirely for Hagen'S failure to do
better.
They also throw many interesting
sidelights on his appearance abroad.
Every one wondered how our color
full champion would impress the
serious minded British fan and critic
At the start. it appears, a wrong
impression of him was created, but
toward the finish, when they had
gotten used to his dashing style, and
few of his pranks. his popularity
grew until there was real disappoint-
ment and sympathy for him in. not
having finished better.
DROVE INTO OCEAN.
The night before the open he is
said to have chosen the promenade
hour TO entertain the concert throngs
by going in the cool of the evening
TO the boardwalk and driving golf
balls into the ocean for the edifica-
tion OF all.
They couldn't get over that.
But the crowninr blow was
evidently delivered when they asked
him who was going to caddy for
him.
"My>chauffeur." Hagen replied non
chalantly.
for pro TO nave chauner, that
was too much. When they found out
he'd hired taxi to get to and from
the course and that the driver hap
pened to have taken fancy to
Hagen and was caddy, at that, in
spare time. that made n different.
But for each of the four rounds of
the championship Hagen is said to
have worn a different golf suit an
other shock to pro golf over there.
HAD LORDLY TRICK.
His lordly trick OF waving his>han nd
Al the ends of gallery lanes to see
them fall back also made it's impress
sion,
But when it was all over and they
got to know him for the sunny
person he is, for his courage, and
good sportsmanship. he made friends
of them all and they want him back
next year very much indeed.
What has your bold Walter
done?" soon changed to '.Oh, 1 saw
storming shot!' as he hit one out
OF the rough, or "a bit merry
yknow. but not SO rotten" IL he peI-
chance overplayed one to the greeh.
and similar British golf terms of
admiration or sympathy. For an ex-
citing finish the sentiment really
seemed to be, 1t is said, that they
would have liked to see Hagen finish.
say only about stroke behind any
Briton.
Which is fair, enough. ...