The New York herald., 1922-01-15
British Golfers AWAIT
Decision on Title Play
Royal and Ancient Committee Considering Plan for
Change in Qualifying Rules of British Amateur
Championship Tournament.
By JOHN @. ANDERSON.

Win the Royal and Ancient Golf
Committee sheive me new petition which
has just been presented to them for a
change in the qualifying rules of the
amateur championship which would
transform the play to almost the exact
conditions as now prevail and have pre-
vailed for years In the United States
title Journeys? In 1913 Angus Hambro,
O. noted British golfer. secured many
| signatures to a petition OF this kind look
ing toward 4 qualifying round and match
play at thirty-six holes, but II was very
politely put in a cubbyhole at st. An
drews. and there 1t rests to this day.
But II will be harder. we should think,
for a throwdown of such golfers as tho
famous Johnny Ball. r. ii. Montmorency,
Lord Charles Hope, Charles Il. Hutchi-
son, Roger Wethered, w. u. Torrance,
Cyril Tolley Robert Harris, C. c. Ayl-
mer, c. o. Hezlet. e. w. Holderness and
C. c. Manford among others. This list
! contains the names OF almost all the
crack golfers OF note in Great Britain
with Mr.. Harold Hilton, as well, on their
side. 1t is hardly to be expected that
such men viii be turned down without
some ceremony at least.
There has been a change in the en-
trance conditions for the British amateur
event. Up to now a player had to be
scratch or better or within three strokes
OF the lowest handicapped man at hts
! club, provided that man was plus or s.
to be eligible TO enter. Now II has been
ruled that the club secretary will be re-
sponsible for all the entries from his
club, and that they win be carefully
scrutinized by the championship COM
nnittee. II Is expected that club secre-
taries will be very chary in approving
the entries OF golfers who do not qualify
in every way. The British have a very
blunt way Of telling 4 secretary Of his
mistakes, and this Is the best chance Ia
years.
Americans Mny Think Twice.
But II the changes which have been
suggested by the above mentioned golf
stars are approved than a Few golfers
from America who may have planned to
play in the big event next season Will
think twice before starting. 1t is pro-
posed that qualifying round be played
at thirty-six holes. with eighteen holes
on the first day and eighteen more on
the next. This would take care Of a
neld OF about zoo. and only the first
eighty who have the lowest scores will
be permitted to continue for the second
round. This Is modelled somewhat after
the American play, except that we put
the number at sixty-four and ties for
sixty-fourth place.
But in the case Of a tie for thirty
second place there is a radical difference
between tho newly planned British
method and our own. We have the
players who are tied play one hole or
/ the fewest possible 70 select the winner.
| The plan suggested abroad Is to have
| those tied play nine holes at medal play.
which seems a fairer method. II tie
results. then nine more holes, and then IL
there is a tie play off by single holes
That surely ought to be a decisive test.
The second eighteen holes by the play
ers would be started in the morning and
all would be finished by 8 80. which in
June at the time OF the year when the
days are longest would give another five
ihours IL necessary for completion of ties.
Then would follow all the matches at
thrty-six holes.
It Is to be expected that there has
been some opposition to the scheme.
| John Low going so far as to say that
Il was the height of folly to have two
kinds Of tournaments in one event. ''If
you want a medal play event have It.
but IL you intend to play at match play
golf stick TO It from start TO finish, Do
not combine the two," were his COM
ments.
Attempts have been made to show that
the results at eighteen holes are always
the same as those at thirty-six. that the
winner of the morning round Is the win
ner Of the day. But while this seemed
to be the result even In America II was
true only up to tho year 1915, primarily
because the players were not SO evenly
I hax va
been the greatest number<pf surprises
and overturns in this respect in the last
few championships.
| Ono writer. George Greenwood. who
Ia in favor OF sticking to the old estab-
lished method, cites the case of Bobby
Jones at Hoylake last year, when Jones
was defeated in eighteen holes by Allan