Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-13

sway. with the result that his tee
shots were apt to be either high or |
fault in great shape.
Two or three years ago Diegel
FIVE or six holes with an even chance
fast that in II months time they c
sionally he would beat them without
Last year Diegel stopped over in
Washington for a match with young
Mackenzie.
well. Roland" he said. "how about
the handicap"
IT think I'll play you even" re-
Joined the youngster, explaining that
he wanted a good workout because he
expected to play in an exhibition with
the next day.
Diegel Barely Beat Him.
Leo won, but only on the last green
and because his opponent missed four
short puts during the afternoon.
Later in the year-not long before
the national amateur championship
Diegel and Peter Jackson played Fred
die Mcleod and Mackenzie in an ex-
hibition match at Indian Spring, with
the ground soft from an overnight
rain.
Now Diegel Is a long hitter on soft
ground, where lots of carry is needed;
but In this match Mackenzie fairly.
broke his back with his terrific driv-
ing.
OF one tee Leo hit one which he
never had surpassed.
There's one drive that boy isn't 60
ing to pass" he said to Mcleod.
Mcleod smiled. AS for Roland, he
smashed out a line drive that never
seemed to rise more than IL feet in the
air.
He surely won't come close with
that type of drive" Diegel COM
mented. But when they came up
to the balls Mackenzie was 35 yards
In front.
The youngsters game has been
about % per cent better each year
than 1t was the Summer before. Par
ticularly has his drive progressed
Thus he not only has shown up Diegel
and other American professionals in
distance obtained, but also that cele
hrated Britisher. Archie Compston,
who hits one of the longest balls of
the present day.
Mackenzie Outdrives Compston.
Playing against Compston, on a day
this Spring when Archie was hitting
the longest ball since coming to
America. Roland outdrove the tall
bTltVI OF NdTuS OH every tee.
There is an enormous advantage &C.
cruing to the player who can obtain
the distance that Mackenzie gets,
particularly if he has his ball under
control. Tactics can be employed by
him which are impossible for the or
binary player.
For instance. playing a match at
the Washington Golf and Country
Club with young fellow whom we
will call Smith. Mack enZie found
himself in difficulties at the finish,
hecau.'e he took the match too easily.
He had been four or Ave up, but he
let down a bit and the other man
caught up with him at the eighteenth
green.
They went on to the first hole.
which measures sos yards and ap-
parently Is an easy par i. but is
not at all. 1t happens that the fair
way is hog-backed. slopins to out
of-bounds on the left. with sand traps
on the right. The green is on a
laO1. with a nasty slope at the rear.
The average man would have had
10 play his tee shot carefully. sacri
flcing distance to position. But Mac
kenzie swung into a terrific drive
that carried to the green and held
He made a birdie 3 and won the
match right then and there.
Has Championship Qualities.
The chances are against Mackenzie
winning the national amateur this
year. He needs more Of the steady
ing influence that comes from long
campaigning. But he is liable at any
time to lay low even the giants OF
the amateurs. So he will be one of
the big features at Baltusrol.
He is fine boy. with Il splendid
disposition. He Is a genuine sports
man from start to finish. When an
opponent misses a putt and Roland
says. I'm sorry" you can depend
upon II that what he says he really
means. Like Bobby Jones he would
rather sacrifice himself than take
the slightest advantage.
over s feet in height. modest and
self effacing. he is bound to be
favorite at future tournaments. And
when he finally climbs to cham
pionship. as he is certain some day
to do, because he has that some
thing which is more than mere abil-
ity. he will be one of the most pop
ular titleholders in the history of
the game.