The Washington times., 1921-05-19

Hagen recently started in on a
course of training for the British
classic. He first went to y specialist
here, and the doctor mapped out
program of dieting for Hagen. Wai-
ter then laid out a daily routine for
himself. This consisted mostly of
physical exercises which tend 10
make the muscles OF his body loose
and pliaple. The good that the train
ing and dieting program has done
Hagen Is evidenced in his three mort
recent performances.
l had a long talk with the sun
burned chap, who is still half boy.
half man. He most assurediy has
the golf temperament He wears a
a humorous recital. and how he can
laugh!
HAGEN Is CONFIDENT.
Hagen Is confidence personifiei.
He has but one idea in his mind-'o
win the British open championship
I'll win It, sure" says the smiling
Hagen. Naturally. I have no alihi
to offer for my showing of last yea
In England. However. this year
am in fine shape, I am playing bet
ter golf than ever before, and I'll be
ready when l tee off in the golf
classic. of the world"
Hagen's long game IL, as usual.
brilliant In his performance of last
Saturday morning Hagen conquer Sd
a fierce wind and other unfavorable
weather conditions in q way that Is
reassuring OF his ability to conquer
conditions said to retArd American
golfers on the seaside courses OF
England. The morning was one ot
those cold, raw affairs, the kind upon
which you just simply shiver. The
cold undoubtedly made the ball less
resilient than usual, and Ii required
hard hitting in order to get ordinary
distances. But Hagen got distance,
and plenty Of IT.
or course, Walters approaching n
faultless. He Is known far and wide
as q master Of the mashie niblick,
and he proved to me last Saturday
morning that he il Just that-~mas-
ter of the mashie niblick."
PUTTING IMPROVED.
1t is on the greens where one no.
tices the Improvement in Hagen's
game He has changed his style OF
putting this year. Now instead of
spending much time over his puts
he Just steps nonchalantly up and
~takes q crack At the ball" He is
meeting success with this new style.
too. In fact, his putting may be
said to be sensational
Hagen. as said before, IL ever ready
for q bit of humor. He was In com
pany with 'tGil" Nichols, Al Wallace,
and Art Alders when I ran across
him in front OF the club house last
morning. Before starting
out on his record-breaking perform
ance he insisted that / should hear a
tale illustrative of a point golfers
are wont to bring up In every dis
cussion Of golf. The point is this:
no two clubs are alike. Fortunately.
too, all principals in the story were
present
"Gii" Nicholla It seems. had a
mid iron that he loved with all the
ardor Of a Scotch club maker. Wallace
wanted the club very badly, In fact
30 anxious was he to get 1t that he
~Gil" agreed to part COM
pany with the mid iron and II be-
came the property of Mr.. Wallace.
This was more than a year ago. and
the exchange took place at BeIleair,
Fla.
The other day Nicholla Hagen,
Aiders and Wallace were talking
over old times. "Ah, IL I only had
my mid iron back said GIL" with
yearning in his voice. Then I'd
show you golf, real golf. golf as It
should be played" continued
Nichols. Turning to Wallace he
said: Mr.. Wallace. I made an error
when / parted with that club. I've
wanted that club many a time since. |
IN fact, my game has never been
Is good since / turned II over to
you. / wonder II you would give IL |
pack to NOR
Wallace, q broker. quick to see a |
ieal, agreed. providing "Gil" would |
a putter which Nichols |
lad and wallace wanted. They |
In Wallace's bag. but the |
mid iron was not to be found |
Nichols looked Into Aldsrs' !