The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-03-23

there is no place on the map that can
equal st. Andrews, but there is Just
one fault with those who live there
and breathe the golf atmosphere year
in and year out, They are inclined to
be too we'll satisfied with what they
have. There are many better courses
here in America and many better
courses in other paris of the world
than at St. Andrews, a fact which
they would probably scorn to admit.
| Surprised At Scores Made
However, it was good testing links
and proved highly satisfactory for this
championship. l think the oldest in
habitants at the links were greatly sur
prised at our scores. Some of the
ancients buried up on the hill in the
famous little cemetery would have sat
up in their graves had they known
that the, old course had been played
many times that week in scores close
to 20.
This was one tournament where golf
ran pretty true to form. Jock Hutch
ison was right ON edge for the cham
pionship and was the leading favorite
from the jump, largely due to his re-
markable performance the week be-
fore In establishing a record for the
course. Jock was born and brought
up at st. Andrews and had played golf
there and caddied over the course for
many years. The winter before he
paid his folks visit and played con-
siderable golf while there At that
time he had had no intention of re-
turning for the championship or he
would have delayed his visit
Americans Showing. Remarkable
AS the tournament neared an erd
we Americans thought it was Tommy
kerrisan's match. He had been going
admirably all the way arounl, but a
few bad holes at the finish ruined his
chances and Roger Wethered, the
amateur. flashed ahead of him. I had
been going fairly well and at the be-
ginning OF ire last round was on equal
terms with Jock, who was destined to
be declared tn. winner. We both weDt
out for everything in SIGHT and guess
Joch worked the syst EN- 4 little better
than l did, for he was soon ahead of
me.
he finish Was a g"dndstanG affair
WIN JOCK an" Wethet4d> bringing l.,
close tie. RC,er Nigh. have won had
he not steppe on his ball accidentally
dad lost a stroke through his carleSs.
ness -anothet example of bad luck. In
the play-off however, Jock proved his
superiority by beating Wethered de-
cisively.
Remarkable Showing
The Americans made a remarkab
showing. Kerrigan was third and
Barnes, kirkwood and myself. with
one or two Others, tied for sixth place.
The British golfers and st. Andrews
to!k were more than surprised and I
mink were in a measure prepared for
what was to come the following year.
That summer Duncan and Mitchell
visited our shores AID played exhibit
ton matches, causing many sensations,
but they failed to make the SHOWING
IN the American open that Vardon and
Ray had done.
returned to the States determined
to make another bid for this event.
which was held at Columbia, the Wash
ington, D. C., course, where The late
PRESIDENT Harding and President Cool
idge, then vice president, witnessed the
play. 1 had nothing to complain about
as far as my game went but it was
Jim Barnes turn to take possession OF
our title and he did it neatly, by a
wide margin. 1 was second, tied with
Freddie Mcleod
The following year 1 was still de-