The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-11


I Golf. as you may happen to know.
For this reason we are always upon
the lookout for q chance to sound
some note Of cheer or lure the sun
shine through the shadows.
It is with this idea In mind that
we tackle the matter Of nerves In
golf. IL you are nervous or are
subject now and then to fits Of
nerves, to jumping pulses and flut-
tering duck fits, there Is no par.
ticular reason to be discouraged.
For example, we had always had
the idea that Walter J. Travis was
one OF the few golfers in the game
who had no nerves to bother him,
one who was always az cool and as
serene as q statue, q golfer never
harassed by even the slightest In
ward CULVER.
He had always given this impress
sion, even In the most nerve-rack
ing places.
Yet recently Mr.. Travis, without
any shame or hesitation. confessed
that he was no different from the
rest of mortal mold.
w. j. TRAVIS AND NERVES.
when / was playing tournament
golf" he remarked one afternoon at
Belleair, IT never came to an i'm
portant match without being quite
nervous. / won't even deny that on
occasions cold chiils ran up and
down my spine. / have often been
as nervous as any one could be
and don't believe the golfer ever
lived who at times has not been
afflicted in the same way. There
are times when this high nervous
tension helps to make one keener,
to keep one at q better fighting
pitch And there are times, Of
course, when it is a handicap. But
IL this nervous state can be held
under fair control it will act as an
advantage on many occasions.
being extremely nervous and CIV
ing completely away to an attack
Of nerves"
Jerry Travers. supposed to be an
other of the phlegmatic clan, was
much like his veteran rival.
TraveEs, who always looked as
unperturbed as q rock upon a
MINDLESS day. was frequently as
nervous as a hooked trout.
when / won my first champion
ship" he said, "I had q 3-foot put
to beat Archie Graham in the final
by and 4. I knew at this stage
there was hardly chance for me
to lose. The match was in my
hand. had been putting well
all day, and yet. facing this last
3-foot putt, could hardly hold the
club In my hand. I was shaking
like q leaf In gale and must
have waited over the ball a full
Ao(o~A FINALLY ma ~ orod
to hit 1t. I have been 80 nervous
Walter Hagen, always an indomi-
Iy hold a club. This was especially
true after had become overgolfed,
or near the closing days OF a cham
pionship. On my last trip to Eng
land / was 90 nervous that / hated
to reach those keen, battling
green's"
ALL ALIKE.
They are all alike in this respect.
After his 50 at Skollie last summer
Walter Hagen. always an tndomit.
| table fighter, was extremely nervous
after the first hole q two, when
he saw that his touch was missing
and that his timing was trifle
off.
It IL this feeling that will tear
apart the nerves of any Eolfer-to
know in a big match that the win
ming touch 10 absent and that
everything Is to be struggle.
Even the finest putters Of long ex-
perience fall quick victims to
putting nerves when they miss one
or two fairly short puts. And un'
less they remember TO slacken tho
grip q trifle and swing the putter
blade a bit more slowly they are
upon the verge Of a series Of quick
nervous jabs at the balf. such az
] Vardon frequently made after miss
ing his first short putt.
A golfer absolutely without nerves
| would be at handicap. for he could
then never quite become keyed ur
TO any lofty championship pitch