The New York herald., 1922-03-10
Send Word They Have Ar
ranged to Enter Open
Championship.
WILL PLAY so MATCHES
George and Abe to Be Sup
ported at Skokie by Taylor,
Herd and Lockwood.
by KERR n. PETRIH.

So BY KERR n. PETRIE.
Definite word was received here yes
terday that George Duncan and Abe
Mitchell. the British professional golf
stars, will be participants in shis years
American open championship. which
!. is to be decided over the links of the
Skok:e Club of Chicago in July.
George and Abe viii leave England on
the Majestic June %, arriving about
! July 5. AS the championship begins
on July IL this will give the British
golfers less than a week to settle down
They will go direct to Chicago to be-
gin practice at Skoiie. and the cham
pionship viii therefore be their first
appearance during their tour.
4 Duncan and Mitchell plan another
campaign of exhibition matches similar
TO that in which they engaged last year.
Last summer they played seventy-one
matches. 1t is thought that about fifty
viii satisfy them this time. Most OF
their exhibition playing will be done in
the middle West. They will conclude
their tour some time in October.
Several weeks ago Duncan in letter
10 the writer gave a hint of what was
IN his mind regarding his plans for the
coming season. Both the Hanger Hill
expert and the long driving Abe Mitchell
are anxious to atone for their rather
mediocre showing in the open champion
ship last year. Duncan on that occa-
! sion did finish in the money. but at no
time did he threaten the title won by
3 Jim Barnes. Mitchell for his part found
the going so hard and the climatic con-
.d:tions then prevailing so little to his
sliking that he decided TO pick up in the
middle of the second round.
weather Proved Big Factor.
subsequent contests in which the Brit
r'ish pair engaged proved that the Amer
> jcan players probably We're somewhat
fortunate in having the weather man
turn on one OF his warmest spells by
way of initiating the Britons at WASH
incton. Determination will be writ
large upon the countenances OF the in
yaders the coming summer, for that Vlr-
tual debacle, coming right at the outset
of the tour, left sore spot. the sting
Of which was in no way mitigated by
the many brilliant deeds recorded with
in the succeeding months.
What awaits the defending forces al
Skokie can only be conjectured. II
would be well to remember, however,
that the invading pair. and especially
Mitchell, who never could have imag-
med what awaited him under the flam-
ing skies OF a torrid American summer.
this time will be prepared for whatever
may betide. over and above that there
is food for reflection in the fact that
last year at SkolSie his first time around
the course Mitchell lowered the record
10 SO, bettering the mark which the
year before had been hung up by Harry
Nardon. Duncan in that same round
scored Y.
Physically Mitchell was in very bad
shape all through his American tour
lie was sufferer from pyorrhea. An
American physician who examined Abe
at the conclusion OF his schedule of
matches said that in such condition he
really ought not to have been playing
golf. Since returning to England Mitch
ell has had all his teeth extracted
: Duncan writes that his travelling
companion had to forego the pleasures
tof roast duck and other such tooth
some luxuries over the Thanksgiving
and Christmas holidays but that by
New Years lie was beginning once
more TO manifest some interest in life.
He is now fit to masticate niblick
head. according to Duncan.
3 Five British Stars to Compete.
This definite pronouncement by
Mitchell and Duncan assures outside
! participation in the American open
championship this year OF a very stern
"and unusual kind. Joe Kirkwood. the
: former Australian open title holder.
.Nvho was runner up to Mitchell in the
.gGieneagles tournament last summer
and who during his stay of several
months in Great Britain actually be-
.rame the leading scorer over a period
~nf twenty important tournaments. has
returned to the United States In addi-
~sion J.. III. Taylor. five times British
-open champion. and Sandy Herd, also
an erstwhile holder of the big title
abroad. have completed arrangements
, for an onslaught on the American
honors.
A month or two ago Vardon was also
mentioned as one of the seasons
potential invaders. the name of the six
times British winner being coupled at
various times with that OF Ted Ray
and James Braid. Recent advices now
make Il appear that a visit from any
..nf this trio Is very improbable. But, as
the position now stands, the American
linksman Is assured this year again OF
one OF those pulsating International con-
flicts so dear to his heart.