Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-16
WALTER
HAGEN
T A Tx S
1T OVER
RY MATTER HAGEN.
American Professional Golf Champion. tn
British Open Championships Twice.

Only PLAYER TO Win Both American ano
British Open Championships Twice
1t seems that in certain quarters
the statement has been made that
golf. like Gaul, is divided into three
parts-British professionals, Amerl'
can homebred professionals and Tor
eign- born American professionals. On
the American Ryder Cup team all the
members were native-born.
The native sons decisively defeated
the British at Worcester, and, now
that the international battle is over
wa have a civil strife on our hands.
Bobby Cruickshank, Tommy Armour
and some of the other foreign-born
professionals are clamoring for
crack at the American Ryder Cup
team. They say they can muster a
team of foreign-born who can uphold
the glory Of old country golf better
than the British team did.
AS captain of the American Ryder
Gun team ] have been challenged
by the British-born professionals now
operating in the United States in per-
nianent positions. ! can see no rea-
son why such a match should not be
played, and I am willing to lead my
native sons into battle against for
eign-born team. Such match should
create great interest. for there are
here. and from the number strong
team could be mustered.
Some Felt Sighted.
Some of the boys felt sighted when
all me.breds were picked to repre-
sent America, as number OF the
foreign-born players have been IN TINS
country many years, are bringing up
families here, and intend to remain.
According to Alex Pirie, president of
the Professional Golfers Association,
and himself a native OF Scotland.
although for 80 years professional
in this country. the selection commit
tee found that, even II 1t had not
been decided to select an all naive
son team. only two of the foreign
born would have been entitled to rep
resent America on the strength or
records made during the last two
years. ..,.
one of these was Macdonald Smith,
and Mac wrote that he could not play
anv competitive golf until later in the
wear. The other was Bobby Crulck-
shank.
I am sure our team will be willing
to give the foreign-born boys a near
ing. They are here to stay ana GER
tainIy have a right to be heard from.
Il
every man has a chance. The foreign
born players have been brooding over
the situation for some time and they
are eager to give us battle.
A number of good players come
quickly to mind when one considers
what material is available for team
of foreign-born players. They have
Cruickshank. Armour, Jim Barnes,
Jock Hutchinson. Smith, Clarence
Hackney. Willie Ogg, Fred Mcleod,
Cyril Walker, Harry Hampton, Willie
Hunter, Bob Macdonald, Joe kirk
wood. Laurie Ayton, John Black, VIII
fred Reid, all from the British Isles,
and Angle de la Tore, from Spain.
Includes Former Champs.
There are many others, but the
above list should come quickly to the
mind of any golfer who has followed
the game in America during recent
years. 1t includes three former open
champions of the United States in
Barnes. Mcleod and Walker. Barnes
and Jock Hutchinson have won the
British open, and Willie Hunter Is
former British amateur champion.
There is plenty of talent among the
foreign-born professionals.
One player could with good grace
play for both sides. / refer to Harry
Cooper, who arrived on these shores
when he was two years old. Although
foreign born, Harry certainly learned
all he knows about golf over here.
There has been and will exist for
some years great rivalry between
American home-bred and foreign-born
players. OF course, all of the early
professionals in America hailed from
the old country, and it was not until
1911 that home-bred won the Amer
lean open. This was Johnnie McDer-
mott. Since then the native-borns
have been coming along and challeng-
ing the supremacy in America of the
golfers from the old country. 1t took
a good many years, until caddies could
grow into professionals, before the
native sons amounted to much, but we
have arrived at last and feel capable
of holding our own against the for
eign-born professionals. By all means
let us have an annual match.
The time has come when every pro-
fessional working in America needs
some protection from boys who, with
out having served any apprenticeship,
suddenly blossom out as professional
golfers, taking Jobs at "cut prices"