The Washington herald., 1922-07-29

Is the soul OF an artist a handi-
cap for competition?
Undoubtedly.
Some one asked George Duncan
IL he didn't think Bobby Jones was
a great golfer.
More than that" replied Dun
can. he Is a great artist.
What's the difference?' Duncan
was asked.
Just this-scones or results
mean very little to Jones. He is
only satisfied, deep down under.
when he plays a perfect stroke. He
isn't content with a shot that's
merely pretty good"
We know a certain illustrator in
this same class. He might work
two days or more over a drawing,
discover some slight flaw. imper-
ceptible to the mass. and then tear
up the illustration. 1t must either
be the best that he can door
nothing at all. There is no such
phrase in his lexicon as "a pretty
fair drawing" He suffers. finan-
cially. in a competitive way. but
he doesn't bother about this part
Of 1t.
Bobby Jones today is as cool and
serene a golfer as one could hope
to see. without a temperamental
quiver-far more so than many who
have criticized him in the past. He
can take more than his share of
misfortune with a smile. But deep
down under this serenity he still
has the feeling that Duncan mem
tions-the soul of an artist that
isn't satisfied to be. twenty feet
from the cup when the right enort
should leave the ball only ten feet
away.
II Jones had been content to
work only for a score at Skokie ne
might easily have won. We recall
two chances where by playing safe
he could have Clipped or pitched to
thu edge Of the green. twenty TO
thirty feet away from the cup. In
each case he went boldly for the
pin. across deep traps. where the
shot failed to come off. why DIDN'T
you play to the right?' some one
asked him. II couldn't play for the
min doing that" he said. The per-
feet shot would leave him a putt
for a three-the safe shot wouldn't
In each case he took IS.
The golf philosophy OF Hagen
and Jones is quite different.
Aon't play to pick up strokes" says
Hagen, IT play to save them" Jones
doesn't play to save them-he plays
to nick them up whenever he can.
Hagen plays boldly-with a strong
dash of caution. Jones only plays
boldly. with caution thrown TO tne
winds. with him 1t is the pln-or
nothingS perfection-or pay the
penalty.
Dunean's Way.
George Duncan happens to be
cast in the same mold. No man In
sport has more of the artistic In
his soul.
"I never bother much about how
score,r the Scot stylist remarked
a vear ago. "I am only interested
in the way 1 hit the ball. II l am
hitting the ball as I ought to hit II.
thu rest of it is upimportant." we
have seen Duncan refuse many
chances to play for safety. He has
always preferred to take the rlsk'
mo matter what the hazard. IL
fine stroke would bring him 10
port.
We have seen both Jones and
Duncan. after victorious matches.
as badly dissatisfied as II they had
been beaten-because they had not
been hitting the ball.
There is no satisfaction to either
In having some opponent beat him.
self.
The IDEA Being
On about beyond there's but one goal
Where step By step the dreamer mounts.
For those who know the artists soul
where nothing but perfection counts
And though thsy sioe along the beat
A long way Oh By dawn or dark
Through days Of triumph or defeat
Their far ssss nssss ssvss tie marx.