The New York herald., 1922-07-18

the national open golf championship
cup. is lonesome away from Westches-
ter county. Jim Barnes carried II West
with him to Slxolie about ten days ago
and back 1t came yesterday under the
arm of little Gene Sarazen. the new
open titleholder. who wanted to show
off his prize to his parents and friends
in the old haunts In the district where
he used to caddie several years ago.
Gene spent the day telling how he
made that closing sixty-eight that won
him the championship and how 1t feels
to be a national hero In sport at the age
Of Il. Genes hair yesterday looked just
as slick as II did on that last hectic
round at Skokie, but not a bit slicker.
The smile was just as bright as ever.
but not a bit brighter when the inter-
viewers. photographers and hero wor-
shippers were camping on his trail than
when he told his friends at the turn in
the morning round last Saturday that
he had taken 40 for the first nine holes.
Gene seems to>enjoy the notoriety and
attention which the winning OF the big
golf classic has brought him, but even
at a he Is showing splendid balance.
Sarazen always had confidence in him
self, IL one may put 1t that way. Some
thought that a championship might
spoil him, but the plaudits are not turn
ing his head. As man who has been
through the mill. Walter Hagen gave
Gene few friendly words of advice at
the close of the tournament last week.
ana little Gene seems to be doing his
best to live up to them.
Tho champion appeared last night at
the Siwanoy Country Club at dinner
given In honor of the visiting British
professional pair, j. H. Taylor and
Sandy Herd. and was given a gold watch
and magnificent reception. Gene told
modestly OF his exploits on the reeking
Skokfe battle-ground and thanked those
at the dinner for the kind words, cordial
wishes and for the present
Matches for saraxen.
Sarazen already Is beginning 10 reap
the reward of his fine golf. He is to play
in a match against Tommy Armour.
the amateur. at the Westchester- Bit
more on July 30. and there ara several
other games In prospect. He will team
up with Tommy Kerrigan next Sunday
against Herd and Taylor over thirty six
holes. He has also an offer for an ex-
bibition on the links of the New Home
stead Club down In New Jersey. this
club having telcgraphed to skokie an
offer of $500 for a date for the winner
of the tournament.
How times have changed In the game
of golf. Any one who has not attended
an open championship. say these last ten
years. would indeed have had his breath
taken away could he have witnessed the
scene at Skokie. In other directions.
too, there is evidence of a big transfer
nation having taken place.
Co x.r1 h. 1n
in 1909 at Englewood. must have been
musing over the metamorphosis as he
stood beside the eighteenth green at
Skokie last Saturday and watched
Saraxen being carried shoulder high.
Sargent won In tho days before high
commercialism had laid It's clutch upon
golf and before the game had taken
anything like It's present hold upon the
American public.
There was n crowd az Englewood. Of
course, and II cheered Justify for Sar-
gent. He got better job out OF II.
too. but that was about as far as II
went. There was no Homestead in those
days 10 offer $500 for an exhibition
match by the champion. Sargent started
out on q transforming trip and got as
far as Forest Park in Brooklyn. He
had ono match against a couple OF
the end. Sargent was open golf cham
plon about dozen years too soon.
Sarazen has 10 be given the greatest
credit for two things. These are his
winning play at Skokie and tho credit
he gives John Black Of California
Grandpa John Black as they cal
him now.
Gives John Black Credit.
BLACK should have won" says Sara
zen II Is mighty gallant Of Gene sc
to speak. for every one knows that
Black was the victim of circumstances
which had they been reversed doubtless
would have resulted In MIN and not
Sarazen carrying off the Championship
All credit to Sarazen for the fine goll
that he displayed and the grand scor
that he made. but here Is one case
where the runner up-the same thini
may be said for Bobby Joncs-rcaps a.
much glory as tho actual winner.
Many believe that had Black been ou
| In front instead OF at the tail end o
| the field, making the mark instead o
shooting at the mark established b,
some one else. he would have won II
canter. Those who do not quito catcl
| the logic of this have only to reflec
| how Gene almost to the end was al
lowed to plough his lonely furrow. an,
how, later on, the excited gallery pro
| truded itself into the picture and lit
orally cast its arms around the neck
Of Jones and Black. implorins them Z
win and telling them what wes require
| Of them to win.
Lem to himself Black probably wcui