The Washington herald., 1921-07-17
by GRANTLAND RICE.

irascible reader, that II you are not
interested in golf your reading here
VIII not have carried you even this
far
And IL you are a golfer, either in
thought or deed, you will at least
be slightly interested in what takes
place up and down the rolling fair
ways of the Columbia Country Club,
washington, ID. c., where. on Tues
day, the four-day struggle among
twenty golfers, including the great
est, starts for the open champion
ship of this well-bunkered COM
monwealth.
what You Could See.
In first review. IL you were pres
ent' you could see the six principal
characters walk by.
l. Jock Hutchinson, British open
champion. tawny of hair, slender of
BODY. but blessed with thick, power
tul hands and wrists. Jock, nervous
and eager. bundle of live wires
covered by human skin. will carry
more than his share of the gallery
because of his wonderful play al
Inverness last summer and his re-
markable victory at st. Andrews
And Jock certainly has as stronc
a chance as anyone else to win and
thereby become the first golfer since
Nardon. back in 1900, 10 hold both
American and British champion
ships at the same moment.
z. walter Hagen, stockily buiIi.
good natured. with a confident bear
ing. holder OF two American opens
going after a golf ball as John L.
Sullivan once went after an oppo-
nent in the ring. Hagen's costume
Will likely be as fancy as his golf
for the former American champion
Is no believer in drab effects. But
II ne happens to be putting this
next week, keep your eve focused
upon his game and his chance.
8. Long Jim Barnes. Of Pelham
tail and angular. with his mon OF
midtown hair and his hawkIike
features. master Of every club in
the bag. but one who has vet TO set
his feet upon the top. Perhaps this
may be his year
4. Abe Mitchell. of England. with
his l9-ounce driver that will send
a golf ball further than any other
man in the field can drive Il. Nit
chell has played the best golf in
Great Britain this year. He will
make a tremendous effort to retain
the cup which Ted Ray carried home
a year ago.
8. George Duncan. of Scotland
British open champion until Hutchi-
son arrived. the fastest PLAYER that
golf has ever known. Another bun
die of nerves, who hardly stops be-
fore his swing is completed. Dun
can is probably the finest shot
maker in the field. wonderful
golfer to watch. lacking. at times,
the unvarying serenity of Tardon
Mitchell and Ray.
6. ]. II. Kirkwood. OF Australia, a
brilliant golfer. who is also a per-
former of tricks and uncanny
stunts. Kirkwood gave Mitchell his
hardest battle in two of Britain's
leading tournaments this last May
and June.
After the Big Six.
These are the Big Six favored
against the field. Matched together.
they are all members of the Nip
and Tuck Country Club. Each has
his variation of play. hut when they
arrive. on form, they should be well
punched.
They will carry most of the big
gallery in the constant hurry and
scurry of the eager crowds anxious
ly trying to see II all.
But these are not all. There is
Tommy Kerrigan, the good-looking
young homebred of Siwanoy, who
led all British professionals at st.
Andrews with a mark of 29S, and
who, with his confidence thus up
holstered, should be figure of i'm
portance.
There are Leo Deigel ard Eddie
Loos, two other fine young home-
breds. Who have been making
threatening gestures in other cham
pionships.
There are many of these young
homebreds who may spring a tidy
sensation at any moment. Last
summer at Inverness Leo DeiRel
and Jack Burke were only stroke
away, and no one heard Rurke's
name mentioned until after the
third round. Burke. with the cham
pionship in his grasp. took a ON
an easy 4 hole after almost driving
the green. And even then he was
only one stroke back OF Ray.
No amateur has figured now in
hve years, not since Ouimet. Travers
and Evans won three out of four
between 1918 and
1876. That ended their march.
But Evans is always dangerous.
and when Bobby Jones can fall heir
to greater serenity and can build
up a philosophy that will not per
NIT mistakes to warp his mental
po'se he has the game to get any
where. But golf happens to be
more than a matter Of
mechanical form--of merely hitting
a small white bail with a club head
OF wood and iron.
The Old Guard.
And there is always the Old
Guard, the most picturesque of
them all. Alex Smith and Freddie
Mcleod. past champions. one weigh
ing 200 and the other 120. prove
that golf isn't a matter OF displace-
rent George Low, the friend Of
all; Gil Nichols who had the game
to win his share Of championships
" he had been less high strung:
George Sargent. another former