The New York herald., 1922-08-13

There are two great problems con-
fronting the officials or the national or
ganization which handles the u. 5. q. a.
championships and the Professional
Golfers Association. These deal with
the restrictions which must be made
in the entries for the open champion
ship and the new methods which must
be devised because of the great growth
of golf in this country to secure nation
wide participation in tho match play
championship which holds sway the
| coming week at Pittsburgh.
In many If not most things we have
followed after the manner of British
procedure in gof. But when II comes
to ruling for three thousand span III
miles and a three-quartcr million lot OF
keen golfers there must be dividing
line. The last few years has seen this
country switching over to course OF
its own and the ruts which 1t will make
while they may run almost parallel to
those across the water will never be
the same 1t Is double track from now
on in all but the essentials, such as
rules, international conflicts. and so on.
There have been many schemes de-
vised and mentioned concerning the re-
strictions for the open championships.
but the best of all. 1t seems to me, has
come from several officers of the Il. G. a.
To prevent a swarm OF professionals
(the amateur entry nowadays is not
cumbersome) mounting up to 400 or
over at some open in the near future
Is a problem which undoubtedly must
be faced at once.
At 1nwood next year what with all
the impetus which has been given
through the victory of the youthful
Sarazen. and the win at Shawnee OF
Johnny Farrell. and of young Kline in
the Long Island open. with George Ker-
rigan snatching the Massachusetts open
and another comparative youngster.
Watrous. winning the Canadian title,
there might easily be 400 golf assistants
alone eager to emulate their former
paymates or cronies. 1t may not be
wise e. make the fee prohibitive. but
il Is admitted an essential TO keep it
down to the size Of the field
Foreign Players to Qualify.
Wherefore the suggestion has been
made that dividing line be drawn cut
ting the United States into two sec
tions This does not mean that line
would be drawn making geographical
halves, but rather where the division
of golfers would be equal. At stated
time and at the same time In the West
and in the East there would be quail
flying round for all those who wished to
enter. Seventy five players would quail
~ from each section. making total OF
$50 for the final three days play. Play
ers from abroad would be required to
qualify In the section nearest where
they landed Surely IL a player cannot
secure a position in the first seventy
five he is not entitled that year to enter
the open championship.
Then there would be further cutting
down. The scene would change possibly
on the following week to the club which
had been selected to hold the regular
event. All would play eighteen holes on
the Wednesday and another eighteen
holes on the Thursday. At that point
all those who were not In the first
eighty would be dropped from play on
the next day. when thrty-six holes
would be played. All tho scores from
the start would count. which is at all
times fair. We believe that the scheme
has abundant merit and would meet
with the approval OF golfers everywhere.
There would be less work for the club
which had the open and there would be
splendid opportunity to spread the
fayors around to the clubs which wished
to hold national events. Three courses
year would have the benefit OF profess
sional play.
r. G. A. I'm Same Boat.
The Professional Golfers Association
championship for the wanamaker prizes.
totaling this year s3,3S0 IN cash plus
medals and the championship cup. ail
donated by Rodman Wanamaker. is In
somewhat the same boat. The profess
sional organization has grown beyond
the belief of the officers this last year.
There are no fewer than twenty-ei light
distinct divisions in the country where
the professionals have an organization
and the sixty-four quallhcrs come from
all over the country. But It seems best
In this case to have an East and a West
championship, with the winners of the
two sections meeting for the title. Jim
Barnes has fostered this. scheme and no