The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-30
By CYRIL WALKER
 { American Omen Golf Chamni0n

lV24 American OpenI Golf Champion
 believe am the most unusual golf champion that ever lived.
 Don't mistake me. am not saying that I think myself the greatest of the champions of the links. Or the brainiest. Or the most mechanically per- feet. No, unusual is the word.
 am meaning no conceit. Perhaps, when this story is finished, you'll agree with me that my case is different from that of the man who usually achieves the triumph of champion ship. It has not been with me a matter merely of developing my game to a point of efficiency which would permit me to compete with the great inter- national stars of the pastime. There were handicaps to be overcome.
 Unusual Handicaps
 Perhaps those handicaps were not greater than have troubled other men. But, so far as I know, they were of "a more unusual sort.
 For p years, first in England and then in the United States, dreamed of being a golf champion. During 12 years of that time I fought to realize the dream, which was the product of my early youthful fancy. But what appeared, at one stage of my career, to be a possibility, came finally to be regarded by me as the most improba- ble thing in the world.
 After struggling Intellectually in men, stal and physical pain and distress through four American open tourna- ments, I almost concluded that my < effoEts were useless. But one small ray of hope remained. A The time came when medical science,F conQuering my ailments, transformed that tiny ray into a great, blazing beam. In q compara- lively short space of time the aspects of my athletic career changed com pletely.
 Two Incidents
 Two incidents stand out in my mind as marking the beginning and the end of my discouragements.
 The first came in 1910, in my eigh- teenth year. Playing one day over the Tfafford Park Golf clubs course at Manchester, England, where I was as- sistant to the professional, I made a round in 60, three under par.
 You can imagine the thrill this gave me. Ever since, as a small boy, had become interested in golf, had been visualizing the day when would be entitled to battle with the great of the land. was convinced now that this day was at hand.
 Round Talk Of Club
 My satisfaction was increased by the conduct of two members of the club, a Mir. Cook and a MT. Beaver, who had played with me when I made my
 
 greatly, describing my game in full to all their associates and telling how l had holed every putt. l was asked again and again to give my story of the affair. For several days it was the chief topic of conversation.
 l was very happy. But not for long. There was to be sequel. It developed a week or so later when two members, our professional, T. G. Renouf, and l went out in a tOursome. Now Renouf, who was one of the best golfers in the kingdom, had not taken kindly to all the attention that had been showered on me. An interna- tionalist, who generally finished well up in all the big tournaments, he had not particularly relished a mere boy like me making a record so close to his own which was 66.
 So he was a bit more than pleased this day when my game went badly while his own showed to perfection. The truth is that was nervous over having to sustain my reputation while thus competing with him. But my regret over my showing was as nothing to the chagrin felt over a remark he made as the match neared an end.
 'rNever Will Play''
 @Ah" he said to me, you'll never be able to play golf!"
 The bitterness which this declara- ton aroused in me has persisted from that day to this. For the time being 1t tumbled my castles in Spain all about my head. He had insidiously planted in my mind the thought that my sue cess was but a flash in the pan.
 q realize I've got a lot to learn about the game" replied. But after [ left him I began to wonder if I would be able to absorb all that needed knowledge. It was some time before my youthful confidence returned and T set one to show him that he was wrong.
 This incident marked the first of the many discouragements that were to come to me. The one which was to