The New York herald., 1922-11-27
.SARAZEN MAY LOSE
HIS TRIP TO TROON
y.
Clash of Golf Dates May Stop
international COmpeti-
tion by 'Pros.'
ny KERR N. PETRIE.

BY KERR N. PETHIE.
According to advices from the South.
where he has gone to play himself back
from conNalescence to championship
form, Gene Sarazen will go to Troon
for the British open championship IN
June and return to defend his American
title the following month. But 1t Is
not without the bounds OF possibility
that Genes plans will miscarry.
At Miami the champion has lost touch
with the NORTH and of course cannot
know that IL the United States Golf
Association agrees to the recommends
ton of the p. G. A. to advance the ma
tional open to June and the Brltisn au-
thorities at the same time again select
June date there will be no trip Tor
him unless he Is more concerned about
winning a foreign title than defending
the one which he annexed this year at
Skokie. This, of course. Is unlikely, al
though It is to be tremendous disap-
pointment to Gene II that trip to Troon
does not materialize.
Some time ago the p. G. A. OF
America made overtures to the British
r. G.. A. looking to mutual action on
the matter of championship dates. It
has been Customary for the British to
hold their tourney In June. but as the
season starts much earlier abroad than
1t does here It occurred to the profess
slonal body in this country that 1t would
work no hardship on the players II
the British event were, advanced to May
This is the month In which the amateur
championship is decided abroad.
Courses at Worst I'm July.
In approaching the foreign p. G. A..
the pros here of course were acting In
the interests of the stars of both coun-
tries. Playing conditions in this coun-
try have made a June date for the
American open logical If not imperative.
for It has been demonstrated the last
two years that courses are prone to be
at their worst in July.
With the two championships being
played in June it will naturally follow
that there can be no international COM
petition among the professionals. hence
the efforts of the American F. G. A. to
have the British change their date. Over
here it would be possible to continue
with date that still would enable the
experts to continue visiting each other.
However. that brown patch experience
at Columbia and the drought and cloud
burst combination at Skokie have made
a host of enemies and few friends for
July.
The action of the American p. G.! A.
in recommending to the u s. G.. A. that
the next championship be played In
June naturally shifts the responsibility
for any clash that may occur to the
shoulders of the p. G.. A. Of Great
Britain. or rather to the Royal and
Ancient. for it seems that the matter
has to be referred to the championship
committee of that venerable II not
always venerated body. The British
professionals no doubt would be only too
glad to acquiesce, but they are not the
last word. In all likelihood the next
phase of the question will be one OF
correspondence between the u. s. @. A.
and the Royal and Ancient.
British Pros willing.
Such overtures. without a doubt. would
result in satisfactory settlement, for
II the British professionals are willing
TO oblige there seems no reason why
the Royal and Ancient should balk. The
British pros, or some of them, know
from experience that their American
cousins are asking nothing that is un-
reasonable or that does not have the
pdchllik Oh SOIuetnlHB tHdt comes pretty
close to dire necessity. at least as It
concerns their own championship. Mid
summer dates have failed. June is the
only resort. If international champion
ship competition is to continue II be-
hooves the British to meet the American
request.
AS for the Royal and Ancient, there
appears no valid ground on which Il can
refuse to transfer its championship on
the calendar from June to May. The
fact that the amateur championship has
for years been successfully conducted
during the month of May stops all argu-
ment save one.
There may possibly be some objection
70 having the two events decided In one
month. Again there is a way out. Why
not reverse the order and play the open
in May and the amateur I'm June? The
amateurs could not complain that the
change restricted their International ac-
tivities From a British championship
In June to an American title event In
September is long cry.