The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-07-17


he had beaten and wrecked Ole Ab
J. II. Taylor. five times British
champion, has written s vivid de-
scription 81 how Hagen, needing to
hole a 12O.yard shot on the 18TH
hole TO tie Jones for the champion.
ship, actually had the audacity 70
send d caddy forward to hold the
pin in readiness for his ball to
drop. Many in the audience, know.
ing the uncanny prowess OF the
great Hagen, expected him to. hole
the shot.
Taylor writes:
sThe British open champs nship
OF 1926 will 90 down to posterity
az one In which American players
dominated the affair from start To
finish. This IS hunaiIiating con-
fession for patriotic Britisher to
make, but 1t Is true. and reflects
no credit on British golfers. The
American contingent, d sturdy and
virile lot. set such q hot pace from
the beginning that II always looked
as Il only they would be counted
upon when the final issue came to
be considered. As stated last
week, the open IS peculiar to itself
and requires tenacity Of purpose to-
last it through. But did not think
that It would paralyze the British.
ers as It undoubtedly did. The
mere thought that the Americans
were here Intent upon carrying off
the cup once more, seemed to be
sufficient to Illustrate their best
efforts and reduce them to impo
tency.
As soon as the Americans were
slipped, there was no doubt about
their Intentions. 1t was not In
their program to play themselves
in in g leisurely manner. content
to wait upon the mistakes OF
their opponents to gain COM
manding position. They realized
that the first round was as i'm.
portant as the last. They wasted
no time to prove that they were
IN deadly earnest, and that their
s.00O-mile journey was not . holi-
day jaunt.
after the first round was
played, showing Hagen leading
with 8 superb 68 and the others
close az heel, I am afraid the
rest Of the field cOmplacently
resigned themselves to another
american victory. There were
but few Britishers even within
striking distance, and when the
second round was finished, the
chase looked more hopeless.
ct became q question only Of
which American would win. Great
as was the prestige gathered around
Hagen, it was generally felt that
he was to meet his master on D
British links, and that his 'boss'
would be an American. Mehlhorn
looked the goods. and Watrous
had many firm admirers, but deep
down in British hearts It was felt
and expressed that Bobby Jones
was out to avenge his severe de-
feat and prove to Hagen that !
some one even greater than he
was on the spot to avenge it on
a British field. Hagen may be
q great showman--he certainly Is
a glorious and courageous player
but 'Bobby's'-no one thought Of
calling him anything eIse-gentle-
manly denieanor captured the
hearts and imaginations OF his an.
dience. An American victory looked
a certainty from the start, but
1t is no disparagement to the cour-
age and playing abilities Of the
rest Of the Americans when I say
that every one, British profes-
SIGNALS and the rest, hoped that
Bobby would win. II seemed
to be IN the fitness OF things that
he should.
His perfection Of style and the
unobtrusiveness OF the way he
gets his effects, simply compelled
the wish. He does not get his eff
fects by a series Of brilliant re-
coveries, which is the glory Of
Hagen. He Is what I call a
straightaway golfer, with no friIls
or flounceS to his strokes. They
are made, powerful as they are,
SO apparently simple and contol.
able, that it looks as If he can
not make a bad one. And when
he does make a loose one the
spectator is left wondering why
he should offend golfing taste by
such an anachronism. It is admit.
ted by all who have watched the
Americans that their, greatest
hole. It seems to matter little to
them that their ball is not on
the green.
IF they are within hail Of It, |
and are left with a delicate clip
shot OF 80 yards or so, they in. |
variably get down in 2. Bobby is
a supreme master ,of this pro- |
cedure. His Judgment O. strength |
and the run of the BAH Is an1az-
ing. Added to this, he has an un.
cannY touih with his putter, rarely |
missing anything that il holeable. |
If he does, he is indignant at the |
lapse. His scores, 70, 70, Is, and
~, were wonderful models of con.
sistent and exemplary golf-and |
this on links which are among /
the most heartbreaking tests !
know of. st. AIMS was known
as a kind OF enlarged ladies'
course, pleasant TO play upon; but
since the alterations. devised with
fiendish cruelty, 1t is holy terror.
"Superlative accuracy Is now
demanded, and / make bold 10
say that it Is the most difficult
championship course ON the rota,
The 4tee sshOts, through 1.-The lair. 1