The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-01
HAGEN PLEDGES BEST
TO BRING THE GOLF CUP
TO A MERIC A AGAIN
by WALTER HAGEN,
British Open Champion and COrrc-
spOndent of The Agc-Hernld and of
the North American News
paper Alliance

NEW YORK, April 30.-When the
giant Cunardec Acquitania, already
laden and with her frs up, moves
out of her dock in the North river
[ will be on m Gay to take part in
the fourth British open champion
ship.
This years trip +. vastly different
from my other three visits. l am
returning to the Tight Little Isle
with the British cup in my possession
and l will be in the positio. of de-
Tending champion instead of as here
tofore with o. y hopes of SINE day
winning the title.
l have been asked many times
within the past few weeks if | eX-
pected to hing the cup back to
America with me- which is more or
less of polite way of asking me
If | am going TO peat my victory.
The American golfing puAlia can
feel assured that | VA = tie best
| can in representing them abroad.
| have always been given credit for
having a lot of confidence. Some
times 1T has b. en- justified and some
times it has not. When I r,lyed at
Sandwich last year | happened to be
Der having gone into q champion
ship with telling of more conf
dence than | baC on that occasion.
Drive From Liners Deck.
This, of course, was brought about
by the fact that / was hitting my
shots better than ever before. l was
playing with a new driver that had
straight face and was hitting a
long low ball with it, which gave
me much more yardage.
The conditions at Sandwich were
such that my drive was a great as
set to my game. There is more or
less wind at Sandwich, which hap
pens to lie on the southeast coast
of England on the English channel.
on wind cpt cilf conrea the drive
is of great importance
My iron shots were also in good
working order and | was putting
very well. This combination gave
me confidence that | might not have
had otherwise. ] certainly did not feel
the same way on my other trips.
My playing in the west and south
during the past winter has been very
satisfactory. If | could enter the
British championship with tt same
game that | left off at Pinehurst 1
would feel my chances for winning
this year would be very good.
Just how long one can go at top
speed is problematical. | have tried
to keep away from the game as
much as possible for the last fort
night. l look forward to more or less
of a rest on the boat going over, al
though I am taking along several
golf balls to drive off the ships
deck
New Course At Troon This Year.
The course at Tr>on. where the
British Open Championship will be
played this year for the first time,
is considered one of the severest
tests of the game. However, from
reports I have heard, many new
traps have been installed which will
put premium on accurate playing.
The Troon links Is new to not
only the American players but to the
British golfers as well. There will
be precious little advantage to be
had from this angle. All British
seaside courses are more or less
alike, just as our inland courses
here resemble one another.
The Aquitania is carrying three
other golfers besides myself Who
must be considered as having a
chance of winning this champion
ship The players referred to are
Gene Sarazen, the American Open