The New York herald., 1920-12-24
BRITISH PRAISE
FOR BOBBY JONES
VardOn and Ray Speak Highly
of Atlanta Star to Golf
ers in England.
ny JOHN G. ANDERSON.

By JOHN G. ANDERSON.
The most recent dispatches from Eng
| land tell us of the high esteem in which
American amateur golf is held. When
pressed for statement as to the COM
parative merits of the play of Robert
Jones and John Ball, Jack Graham and
others of Brtain's former best. both Ray
and Vardon lodged the question just a
Bit reiteratng that Jones was quite the
best player they had scanned in years
and that the British golfer who was able
to defeat him must be in prime physical
condition and at the top of his game
| 1t Is good news. indeed, to see for the
very first time In history. it seems. a pro-
! fessional opinion which acknowledges a
parity. II not the superiority Of the
American amateur in golf. Both Evans
and Jones were mentioned again and
| again by both Vardon and Ray in their
various interviews across the water, but
not one word was said about Francis
| Olimet. although the latter gave Jones
a thorough trouncing in the semi-final
round of the national championship
The primary reasons for this neglect
would seem to be two in number
| Oumet, on the two occasions where he
played against the British pair. at Bel
mont Springs and the Country Club, was
not on his game. 1t may have been
| nervousness, a keen desire to play up to
his very finest game, which initiated
against the excellence of the Boston
golfers game, or it may have been the
only two off days which he had the
past season, but. whatever the cause,
Ouimets showing was distinctly disap-
pointing and, for him, commonplace.
His defeat by a large margin by Evans
was second reason why his name has
not been given to the critics abroad.
Locality in this land will play the de-
Gliding role in fixing the sums of praise
to be accorded to each of these three
golfers. AS a medal player Jones
seemed supreme and in tournament play
he was. but Ouimet. with seventeen
rounds under 20 in the year 1920, almost
all in practice round affairs although
holed out for actual scores, holds long
lead in general averages. But the for
mer open and amateur title player will
never win another championship. so we
believe, until he enters more into the
general run of open competitions. the
medal play sectional championships and
the match play affairs as they are held
in the various districts.
Met No New Situations.
Jones's great success lies in his meet
ing no new situations either in match or
medal play, new in the sense of strange,
conducting toward nervousness. Much
play with professionals of the highest
class has given his game and his tenn
permanent a solidty which is invaluable
in pinch. 1t is seldom that we hear OF
Evans taking part in tourney OF local
interest. but we do follow him through
a fec 81 aoI
games wherein his wits and powers are
kept on edge and his game sharpened.
IL is fully recognized that not one golfer
in a hundred can develop game which
will stand the wear and tear of eight
days strenuous and even play without
a preparation along tournament lines.
IT is very interesting TO note the re-
marks which our recent visitors made
concerning physical training as an aid
to golf For many decade there were
no ideas on this subject which were not
scoffed at and ridiculed. But with n
large field of confident players ii is i'm
possible for any golfer to brush his way
through unless he has a stomach free
from aches. feet that do not tire easily,
arms and wrists which respond to the
brains commands unhesitatingly. with
nerves under control The upbuilding of
these attributes comes through physical
fitness nowadays. Wherefore Vardon
and Ray warned the British amateur
golfers to train for the coming cham
pionshlps. 1t is n surety that the Brit
ish amateur will not permit this advice
to go unheeded. particularly II prelimi-
nary rounds have to be played for en-
trance into the match play finals
s.Pros, Eager for Trip.
The attempt TO send a representative
professional group to take part in the
British and French opens will meet with
worldwide approval provided the best
players can be induced to go. And in
ducements ought to be given which are
worth while. II is not very difficult
matter for pro" who is single TO make
the trip and stand out Of his own pocket
all the extra expenses which will mount
up but Il Is another matter for the chap
with a family. He Is going 10 lose some
money while away from his club. and
unless he has very capable assistant
or two the sum will not be small. II
national golf hono- is at stake then the
sums raised ought to be sufficient to pay
for the services of extra help at the
clubs In order TO make the losses as
slight as possible.
We have chatted with not n few of
the professionals and they are eager to
go. but they cannot neglect their busi-
ness affiliations entirely even for n trip
across the wate~ coming as It does n {
time when the golf season is beginning
to boom. We trust that enough money
will be raised so that all these problems
will be met and faced easily. II Is al
most needless to add that the sooner the
ten names are given out or whatever
number will finally go, the better It will
be for the golfers themselves.