The New York herald., 1922-08-27
QUESTION RIGHT TO
CAPITALIZE VICTORY
Champion Chose to Make
Money by Playing Many
Exhibition Matches.
IN GAME FOR THE COIN
Anderson Says 1t Is Feasible
to Think That Pro- Titles
Are Less Than Dollars.
BY JOHN G. ANDERSON.

BY JOHN G.. ANDERSON.
There has been no little comment on
the refusal of the British open cham
pion Walter Hagen to enter the West
ern open championship and defend
the title which he already held. This
close following after the giving up
the p C. A. title without struggle
would make it seem feasible to think
that titles in themselves contain little
honor when matched against the
elusive dollar.
There are two sides to this question,
OF course. 1t so happens that Hagen
can capitalize his win of the British
title by playing many exhibition.
matches During the two weeks when
the p. G. A. was played at Pittsburgh
and the Western open at Detroit. Hagen
took part in seven exhibitions. which
netted him about seventeen hundred dol
lars. If he had won both titles again
he would have been thousand dollars
richer or in other words he would have
missed seven hundred or so dollars. A
professional golfer professedly is in
the game for what it will give in ,finan-
cial return, and there are many who will
insist that Hagen had no ties whatever
in deciding on his course Of conduct.
Then there are others who say that a
champion when he is In the country
ought to defend his title. In this par
ticular instance Hagen would have been
playing at a club which had Immediately
made him an honorary member for his
win Of the British title, and, in fact had
had him as professional for a year or
so before he entered business in De-
troit. The members felt that they had
some claim to his services, If only for
old times sake, and were not slow to
vent their wrathy feelings when it was
decided that he should not enter.
Hard to Decide.
1t is difficult to decide upon a settled
line of action which shall make prece-
dent. II is not right to bring pressure
to bear except in one way. 1t must be
admitted that when a professional with
chances to make more money gives up
those chances In order to defend a
title he Is acting in the true amateur
spirit which means much for the game.
AM II would take a lot of convincing
to make US believe that the financial
returns in the end would not be much
greater. A title carries esteem in far
greater measure than an exhibition
match won or lost. and the precedent
OF not defending a title does not help
the sport.
Here are a few facts about the Brit
ish players who will enter the amateur
championship after the international
match at the National Links.
Mr.. Roger Wethered, Royal and An
cient Club. age %. a famous oxford
University player, who gained his great
est fame by tying with Jock Hutchison
last year at st. Andrews for the British
open title.
Mr.. Cyril Tolley. Royal and Ancient.
age 26, contemporary Of Mr.. Wethered
at Oxford University, winner of the
British amateur title at Muirfield IN
1920. when he defeated Bob Gardner at
the first extra hole. Tolley is studying
to be a barrister.
Mr.. Robert Harris, Royal and Ancient.
age 40, a stock broker. played for Scot
land against England six times and
runner up for the amateur championship
at st. Andrews in 1913.
Mr.. John Caven, Cochrane Castle
Club, age 30, clerk in an engineering
office in Johnstone and runner UP this
year to Holderness for the British anna
teur title.
Played for Oxford.
Mr.. G. V. l.. Hooman. Stoke Poges.
age 35. Lloyd's Insurance, has played
regularly for oxford against Cambridge
and for England against Scotland.
Mr.. w. Willis Mackenzie. Morton
Hall. age 26, Is employed in an Edin-
burgh sto ok brokers' office. He Is very
long driver and steady.
Mr.. Colin c. Aylmer. Ranclagh. age
3s, played for Britain last year against
America, and was runner up in the anna
teur championship in 1910.
Mr.. William b. Torrance. Edinburgh
burgess Club, age 33. an insurance
manager. Scottish internationalist and
winner in 1921 of the st. Georges cup.
IL will be seen from the foregoing
that the team will not be much older In
wears than the American squadron, while
their experience will be fully as valuable.
Their success depends very much upon
their ability to play the high cut shot.
1t was lack OF skill In this particular
which sent both Wethered and Tolley
down to defeat in the qualifying rounds
OF the national amateur at the Engi-
neers. and IL may prove to be the source
OF great trouble yet at Brooklnc.
When Willie Hunter arrived last year
his first visit was to a shop to select
n club which would give stop TO the
ball His success in reaching the semi
finals was due to his constant practice
with that club for n couple OF weeks
prior to the play. Perhaps the others
will take leaf from his book and do
the same There Is little doubt that
shot can be purchased In some measure