Evening star., 1928-05-12
HAGEN IS [AUDED
FOR DRAMATIC WIN
Once Criticized by British
Press, Yankee Golfer Now
Is Acclaimed.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. May 12.--Walter Hagen,
who has been criticized adversely in the
past by the British press, was acclaimed
today for his dramatic comeback in
capturing the British open golf cham
pionship after his defeat by Archie
Compston In special match.
Having watched Hagen win the open
for the third time. the British experts
we're wondering today whether another
American, Glenna Collett, would have
the British women's golf championship
in her possession at the end OF next
week
Hagen's capture of the British open
made the seventh American victory in
nine years, and there were regrets and
heart searchings over the British fall-
ure: but no excuses were offered, and
Hagens superiority was universally &C
knowledged.
Commenting on Hagen's recovering
after being beaten by Compston, ID
down, the Times admiringly said: Amy
other man would have been at least
temporarily crushed by that fearful
beating, but to Hagen it acted only as
q spur. OF the big men he has incon-
testably proved himself the biggest"
"Mos. Dramatic Comeback"
mo finer display of sheer determina-
ton to overcome difficulties was ever
witnessed" Sporting Life said. Refer
ring to the Hagen Compston match. the
paper declared that Hagens perform
ance at Sandwich was "the most dra-
matte comeback in the history OF the
game" "a, ..
Sentence after sentence IN this VEN
was written by golf experts and edi"
torial writer's on Hagen's play.
Aside from his immediate recupera-
tion from the adverse influence ex-
nected to result from his defeat by
Compston, Hagen was paid tribute Tor
possessing q marvellous ability to ngnt
through desperate situations with IN
domitable will and spirit.
1T Is true" one expert wrote, enat
Hagen makes more false shots than any
other first-class golfer. but nobody has
his mastery in recovering"
Since 1920, when the open compeu-
ton was resumed after the war, the
winners have been: George Duncan,
British. 1920: Jock Hutchison, Ameri-
can. 1921; Walter Hagen, 1922; A. @.
Havers, British, 1929 Hagen, 1924; Jim
Barnes, American, 1925, and Bobby
Jones, American in 1926 and 1927.
Hagen's string Of golf victories also in
cludes two American open titles, three
American Western open titles and five
championships of the American Profess
sional Golfers Association.
The Inferiority Complex.
Some writer's had long faces over the
British defeat and asked what was the
matter with British golf. The Daily
News offered the explanation that 1t
seems to be sufferinfig from O. severe
form of inferiority complex"
In all the comment, however, there
was a notable absence Of any carping at
the prolonged series of American
| victories.
1T would be NICE" the expert Of the
| Post wrote, IF some British golfer would
stem the food OF American victories. but
| 1t Is pleasant TO know that up TO now
| they have been well and gentlemanly
! won"
| Sympathy was offered to the diminu-
| tive Argentine, Jose Jurado, in his fall
| ing off In the last round since his earlier
| play had won keen admiration. and at
one time 1t was expected that he might
| be the champion.
| Monday will see one of the two
| principal foreign contenders for the
| British women's title out OF the running.
for In the first round at Hunstanton
Glenna Collett Is matched with Mile.
Simone de la Chaume. French woman
who Is defending her title.