Evening star., 1928-06-12

NJ NJ a LEAbEI SG1G1I1G tIlAIl
nature Itself furnishes. And
we've heard a Scotchman
Joke. with a smile on his face. But
yesterday we heard the miracle state
nnent from O Scotchman, who happens
TO be the national open golf cham
pton and the gent almost universally
accredited with being the greatest iron
player in the world.
Tommy Armour was discussing, in his
usual modest way, his prospects for
again winning the national open cham
pionship at Olympia Fields next week.
Never one to dlGuse on his own game,
Tommy sat in a chair in the golf shop
ct Bannockburn and discussed. from
the viewpoint Of one who knows all the
difficulties an ouirks that must be OVER
come for a champion to repeat. We
prompted him, knowing that he never
would talk about himself unless some
thing Of that sort was done. And at
last We got the great admission.
Tommy is playing his irons better
than ever before in his life.
win Face Great Field.
To some that may mean nothing but
o mere statement Of fact from one who
within 10 days will be called upon to
face the worlds greatest in defense OF
the title he struggled for years to win.
But to us. who have seen Tommy prac-
ticing faithfully day after day, with
long iron, intermediate iron, nashie,
spade and niblick 1t means just one
thing. Tommy Armour is not such
long shot to repeat at Olympia Fields.
Tommy came to this country just aft
er the war with the reputation Of being
the greatest iron player among the
Scottish amateurs. He turned profess
sional late in 1924 and gave himself
over entirely TO golf. Then began a
seige Of closer attention TO the game
than Tommy had been able TO give
since he was a lad back in Edinburgh
before the war. The irons got better
and better until the pros with whom
he played all acknowledge that he was
the peer OF them all with the iron i'm
plements. Then came Oakmont and
that great iron shot TO the final green
which put him in a tie with Harry
Cooper And Tommy swept on TO SUBJ
sequens victory
And now Tommy is playing the irons
better than ever before To US 1t
means Just one thing-his chance to
win at Olympia Fields is very, very
good. even in field where the great
Jones lis not better than 1-to-5 shot.
We watched Tommy last night. lazily
draw his long frame out OF chair at
Congressional and anlble out back Of
the eighteenth green TO try out his
"a yorite driver First came a fade,
which carried out some 220 yards and
died away In the air. Then a low
hook And finally that greatest ball
Of ALA hall that starts out little TO
the right Of the line, rises high and
far and cut in from right 70 left. fin-
tshing with a great run at the end.
Can Place the Ball.
We saw Tommy hit a dozen shots Of
this Identical character, standing along
side the eighteenth green. Some Of
them carried into the rough clean
across the tenth fairway. We called
for low hook into the wind. And he
played SC. And we called for l0w
fade, such as we used to watch him
play when be vas q ranking amateur.
He played ig, but insisted that 70 get
anywhere nowadays, the ball must be
driven farther than fade VIII allow,
ianky Scot IN the matter Of getting
wlsat ne goes after In this interesting
matter o4 hitting golf ball.
We've seen Hagen and Jones and ali
the rest Of them 10 action time after
time. But after watching Tommy
ArrsDir'E amazing mastery Of shots we
believe he has an even chance with
Jones', Hagen. Earazen. Farrell or any
one else Ia the field. realizing 10 PICK
q winner outside Of Jones would De
folly of the worst kind. We say that
Tommy kaa as good a chance as any
one In the field To win. NO man can
say more. II he did IL would be mer.
fooligganesH And. In addition 70 that,
Tommy Is keen for II. lie wants TO
win, although he doesn't say SO. Every
more END every intosation Of his voice
beSpezks his wish 10 win. He wants
70 be the first champion 10 repeat since
John McDerrnott Won back III 1913 for
the second consecutive time,
Tommy leaves Washington tomorrow
for middle Pennsylvania. where be viii
play an exhibition match on Thursday.
Then he w5u Ieaye for Chicago. arrjy-
STlg Ira the Windy City Saturday morn
ing ia time 10 play at Olympia Field
on that day II 9e wishes But Sunday
he has an exhibition AZ Chicago and
- viii not begin serious practice until
Monday. He viii then have three full
days IN which 70 practice for the
tournament. which starts THURSDAY.
We predict he win oe In there fighting
L1tn the Anal putt II holeo.
Shortage Of entries In the champion
ship tourney of the Middle Atlantic Golf
AAgossiztt0n At the time fc- closing entries
yesterday afternoon cAuEeo officials CT the
oYRsa1lz@iAon " extend the tine of entry
70 this afternoon a. 8 o'cIock, Entgies
may De teIepboned ~ the Congressional
Country club 8p 70 q ocBcek. ~ which
fssae ff1e paiFfnas viii b. made, Only
rs players had entered ffl@ tourney up
~ last nsgflt. although the cream os
a1i tsse lccsi stars hare sent IN tacir
names. among them Miller y. GteriY-
a1a. winner of the Columbia tourney
last week Harry o. Pitt, rTinnsr-Hp IN
The same event. John e. EbofeY ~
TsznnockbWTn. In als FIRST tournament
start of tfse seasou f. l.. Hougi1tou
~3niaeF ~ Town ard Country; Albert
T. Mackenzie. DgnaIc WoodBar6 ard
o19sr stars.
HspneY 8. Pepe, chairman ~ tie In
6lan Spring golf committee, viii IeSd 4
6Ha1akgty team ~ LINKS warriors " tn
Tgcsan Spring Cub into team n1atcE
rsfZt Sunday 81 the Pour C<yfners Ciub
against . team from t51s Rolling Eoat
T5oa Cub u Cstgglsv1las, Nd, nea
baltimore In addition " Ne teen
r52tSsg tsge festivities vii! ~ oFlgilten
eS bR q professional four hall Tnasci
~ Wigleh j k0aro HasBtef u india
Spring end Geggge FSfsefgbaugh, Bi
assistant. VIII pair against Carroll !
MeAsSses. ttse Rolling B1an Instructor
aglS he asAe,
POPE VII ehoose Ire n4alap spr1ni