The New York herald., 1921-03-13
MAKES
WINNERS IN HARD
CLASHES AT GOLF
Stiffens. Steadies and In
spires Player at Cru
cial Moment.
rs FIFTEEN PER CENT.
Nerve, Confidence, Judgment
and the Shots Make Up Bal
ance of Stars Equipment.
By JOHN G. AMBER son.

By JOHN G. ANDERSON.
The golhng invasion of Britain has
begun. Within the next seven weeks
We shall see amateurs and profess
sionals departing for England and
Scotland TO Join Miss Alexa Stirling in
a triple quest for the worlds highest
honors. victory for a golfer from
this side would give TO America a SUI
premacy unchallenged until a visitor
TO our shores has carried away a
championship title Whether we shall
have the privilege of cheering cham
pioh as he or she walks down the
gangplank sometime next June or July
is, rs always, q matter of conjecture
and almost idle guessing.
There can be some foundation, how
ever, for guessing at odds because Of
the play of the principals in the last
eight or nine months. II would seem
feasible to put the chances OF American
success In the amateur events at no
more than 5 10 1, with the professionals
from this side on 10 or 90 to ! basis,
taking field for field. 1t must not be
forgotten for a moment that there Is
new and fairly young triumvrate In
Great Britain-Ray, the American open
champion. and Duncan and Mitchell, the
British open and match play title hold
ers, who have by 81 putt or SO a round
dethroned the trio Vardon, Braid and
Taylor. who reigned supreme for over
twenty years And these last named
are not through If we consider only the
case OF Vardon, who finished second last
year at Inverness.
The American pros heading the inva-
sion we presume will be Hagen and
Deigel. the latter playing at a wonder
ful rate out on the Pacific Coast No
other homebreds would seem to have a
chance, mainly because their heart is not
In the game as II once was. Brady inu-
mates that he is lukewarm on the prop
osition of going over to st. Andrews,
and there has been nothing In his game
down South which would Indicate that
he had improved over last season. when
he showed signs of lack of interest
in championship play. This frame Of
mind always brings about a lessening
in playing power.
short Distance Players.
Tom MacNamara can play "a holes OF
friendly golf as well as any golfer in
the land, but the championship fnds
1im short on strenuous campaigning.
without which few golfers reach the
top Almost all the other American
born players are thirty-six or fiity-four
hole golfers. with very uneven and
streakish bits OF play. Mclean seems
to thrive on match play success. whle
Hoffner and French have exhibited in
different golf in the last twelve months.
90
bat the British strength for. although
Leo Deigel finished second last year and
with n number OF rounds under seventy,
thus far this season has shown that he
is a topnotcher, we doubt exceedingly
his ability to go through such field
as will gather at st. Anorews next June.
Deigel impresses one only as q maker
OF low scores. He drives well, rather
steadily too. and with the aid OF the
ribbed clubs lays the ball up well on the
green via the air route. He puts fairly
well in a style which Is TO say the least
comlcal. approaching the ball with what
seems 70 be a modified hop step and a
Jump. He was nightly handicapped
last year at Toledo BY n few Of his
friends who thought that baseball root
ing was In place on the golf links. There
Is no doubt in my mind that Diesel
~
been pestered by friends and bystanders
all trying to give him advice. some OF
which unfortunately he took.
But having the nerve. all the shots OF
the game, confidence. good natural Judg~
ment. only total up s5 per cent. Ex-
pcrlence, which stiffens the heart az the
right moment, produces inspiration IN
the last round and steady hands on the
putting green in the last few holes is
the other Is per cent That handicap
Is what every young player is up against
Ike an Easter chick pechng at all sides
until the shell is broken. and dazed
performer stands before an admiring
throng.
would BE Double Triumph.
n Hagen should do well II would be
A double triumph. As soon as player
leaves the profession he sheds bit Of
tho inspiration which brings fame.
Friendly golf has ruined az many good
pIayers as has the lack Of practice
Hagen will, therefore. be In tho hit or
MISC class He has the ability and no
NAY finish near the top and then again
II he IL not In n golfing mood induced
BY serious play he may not be a promi-
mont firure Hagens rise to champion
ship heights was along the road trod BY
Ill other champions. but his departure
from the teaching force has weakened
lis ability. a glance AT the records of
Mi other golf champions shows that they
yegan TO slip away only when they placed
rolf in the avocational and not the vooo-
.ional field.
II would never do to discourage any
Young golfer who has even remote
chance OF winning a place IN tho prizo
money Deigel ought 20 be sent 20 n
andrews ought to be accompanied by
! coolheaded club member. ono ac-
lualnted with tho ways or Britishers
IN order that he may get as much ~
possible Of the 10 per cent. experience.
without which championships are
rarely won. Glancing through all tho
years this statement rings true, tho
notable exception being that Of Francis
Oulrnet at Brookiine In fe13.
We have not heard OF the amount OF
money raised by tho golfers or the
country IN the efforts 70 send On Amer
Icpn team 10 compete with the stars
: broad. but we do think that prefer
,nce should he given 20 the younger