The New York herald., 1921-03-13
ANZAC GOLF FEARS
LURE OF AMERICA
Australians Would Have Their
Champion Promise to Give
L. s. Wide Berth.
BY KERR n. PETRIE.

After hearing that even before he had
won their open championship Austria
lians were debating whether their home-
bred professional star J. II. Kirkwood,
was the best golfer in the world. Ameri-
can linllsmen will be glad to know that
this young man has definitely made up
his mind to visit England for the pur-
pose OF playing IN the British open. 1t
had got TO that stage in the Antipodes, It
appears. where nine on tof every ten
who saw him play were of the opinion
that he could take the best golfers OF
the old country into camp. and even
Alex Orr, who spent some time In Aus
tralia, and lis now back again in the
British Isles, has been urging on his
friends down under to form a syndicate
to finance the trip Orr, 1t would ap-
pear. never sees n big match in Britain
but he weighs the young Australians
chances against those competing.
BY all appearances the Australian
linksmen have gone about the raising of
their fund something along the lines fol-
lowed here: that is. by popular sub
scription. Most Antipodeans who be-
lleve In Kirkwood are delighted at the
prospect OF his being given an opportu-
nifty TO measure shots with the British
and American stars who will gather at
St Andrews.
There Is an amusing aspect TO the
case, however. for one or two have re-
fused TO subscribe 10 the fund unless
given a promise that Kirkwood will not
visit the United States. Not that they
object to allowing Americans the pleas
ure OF seeing their young champion per-
form. What thev are afraid of is that
II Kirkwood com = .tls way he may be
induced TO accept some appointment or
that he will see IN this country oppor-
tunities beside which the best that Aus
tralia offers even a brilliant native son
will look but picayune remuneration.
Australian golfers who are familiar
with conditions both in that country
and Great Britain feel that the courses
OF Scotland and England will not bother
Kirkwood much. although they are not
so certain about the conditions OF
weather that he may encounter there,
particularly the strong winds. for II has
not been lost sight OF what happened
TO Walter Hagen last year at Deal
IL is pointed out that Rirkwood is in
no sense a one course performer and
there Is great deal TO substantiate
such a claim. At Kensington and Rose
Bay. both high class courses not 50
very long ago Kirkwood scored "A 10
and 50 respectively, and then went on
10 the Killara links and reeled of a 81.
That 67 was made still more remark
able for the poor start which Kirkwood
got.
In Melbourne we find that II is Just
the same tale. And while in New Zea-
land. Mt the open championship. Kirk
wood equalled or bettered every exist
Ing record for the courses over which
he played In that country.
There may be n wide difference be-
tween Australian and British or Amer
ican professional golf, but the scores
made by Klrkwood speak for themselves
He stands Just bit above the rest OF
his brother professionals, and as he y
yet In the early twenties, r. pleased with
a fine physique and. besides. neither
smokes nor drinks. there Is no telling
what honors lie before him.
We are too far away from the large
golhng centres, England and America.
TO be able 70 get either professionals
or amateurs 10 come out here" says
Auld ReelSie IN the sydney Referee.
The former might, but Il Is doubtful II
tho best would. unless nt an almost pro-
hibitlve price Though golf Il BOOM
ing here in an almost unprecedented
manner we are very much in the dark
az TO what our standing and rating
really is III Kirkwood goes 20 Britain
we should know exactly where we stand.
Further, he is an ideal man 70 send. for
ne Is very observant and. like Nardon,
always very deslrous of learning any
thing new that may benefit his game.
That there may be things new 20 him
that would improve his methods. I think
he would be the frst TO admit"