The New York herald., 1922-10-24
OPEN GOLF TITLE
IN LITTLE DANGER
International Phase Likely to
Be Lacking Next Year
at InwOOd.
BY KERR N. PETRIE.

Unless in the meantime some new
ster comes 10 light there IS little reason
to believe that there VIII. ~ any British
participation next year in the American
open golf championship. Before they
LEFT for home last Saturday, George
Duncan and. Abe Mitcneii std that the
chances of their returning to these
shores next summer were very slim in
deed. So with George and Abe out
there is small prospect Of international
competition at Inwood, since tours and
tournaments have ceased to interest the
old guard such as Vardon. Taylor,
Eraid and Herd.
Duncan and Mitchell have helped the
last two years to increase the interest
in the national open, and in 1920 Ted
Ray won the title, while Nardon tied
fer second place. There is no denying
that this international element has inn
proved the outlook for the classic.
Without something of the sort the next
championship will appear almost tame
Britain has several young stars coming
along. Whether they are improving
fast enough is the question. They will
be put to the test next year when the
American professionals again invade
the bunkereds slopes of Albion. Should
one of them annex the title he will be-
come a first class prospect for the car
rival at Inwood. Otherwise, unless Ray
feels like taking another fling at the
crown which he wore for twelve months,
u looks as if the pudding may have to
be eaten without that very desirable In
ternational spice which makes the de-
tending players do just shade better
than they might.
1t develops that Duncan and Mitchell
for the season closed have done roughly
so,Uo less exhibition business than a
year ago. This may not be so much an
indication that the public taste for
these matches has become satisfied ls
It Is due to the competition which the
British pair have had to meet. In 1921
George and Abe We're virtually the only
ones in the field. This year they have
had Walter Hagen and Joe KirkwooJ
opposing them in bidding for a share
OF the exhibitions. And with Hagen
holding the British open championship
and Kirkwood introducing his novel re-
pertory of trick shots the American and
the Australian have formed serious op
position indeed.
The fact tnat Duncan and Mitchell
should have come within 5000 of their
ls2l earnings jim this country Is there
fore an indication that this particular
business is growing. Ten or a dozen
matches more probably would have
brought them abreast of their last sea-
sons figures But had there been no
more business than there was when
they last visited these shores they
would have fallen good deal below
this figure provided there was to be
any demand at all for the services Of
Hagen and Klrkwood. And it is well
known that the latter pair have had all
that they have been able to attend 20
during the summer monhs.
Notwithstanding that they lave give ,
some wonderful performances. Duncan
and Mitchell have not quite scored a.
low as they did In 1921. For the tour,
which included sboth exhibitions and
championships. Mitchell averaged 1921
strokes per round whiles the averag
Of Duncan was 73. Such golf. consider
ing that it covers more than one hun
dred rounds. has to be stamped as won-
derful. In one run Mitchell had five
rounds under 20.
What pleased Duncan and Mitchell
most of all without doubt was the fact
that in one of their last matches they
got even with their old rivals, Hagen
and Barnes. They also defeated Hagen
and Kirkwood the three times that they
met them in matches. George and Abe
intend to devote some OF their time pre-
pairing themselves for a resolute defense
of the British open championship cup
which the last two years has taken up
residence in the United States