Evening star., 1928-05-02
tA"ooiatea Pres. Sports wri,er1

n YEW YORK. May , lP4,-Johnny
M Farrell has won most of the
VI little golf championships and
a never the big one. but he is
not 6ownhearted. Only - years
of age. he believes he will be open
champion before he is forced to retire
from competition,
When he does win the title he will
putt his way to it. The smiling superla-
lively groonled WeStcheSter pro is the
worlds greatest long distance putter. He
is prepared to join enthusiastically III
any campaign for more and bigger
greens.
Johnny is only a common or garden
variety Of 'putter from TO feet, but
from 40 10 so feet he is a combination
Of deadly poison and high explosive. He
has made puts III serious competition
better measured IL yards than ~ 'ee'.
What is the eXplanatlon?" he was
asked. Have you always been 5000
putter."
is Natural Puttcr.
Always" was the reply. Il could
putt before could play any other part
OF the game / was a cadoy at Siwanoy
and could practice putting when was
not carrying clubs, while, OF course, the
caddieS could not play on the course.
I learned to sink the long ones, car
rving Jerry Travers' clubs. He never
tried TO lay the ball dead 10 the cup.
Every time he putted, no matter how
far away he was on the green. he went
for the hole. I caddied for him every
chance got and as he was tour tunes
amateur champion and won the open
once. I didn't see how could PICK out
q better example 10 follow.
Johnny has had only one putter ano
still has it. Ii is Of aluminium ana was
given him by Tom KerTigan. the silva
nov pro. when the blackheaoeo boy wltn
the smiling eyes was working III the
shop at Siwanoy.
1T was an old putter then" Johnny
said. Tom got it from his brother
Billy. who, in turn. had taken 1t from
the other brother, George.
The leather covering on the handle IS
worn and falls away from time TO time,
but Johnny won't do anything about II;
The old putter has stood him In gooo
stead too often to take chances on
changing its feel"
Expects to Win Some Day.
'rOf course. you think every year is
your year" Johnny said, as he chatteo
Of his prospects for 1928. but really
believe will win / have played good,
sound golf all Winter. but not too much.
and am 10 pounds heavier than have
been.
The extra weight will be helpful.
have to thank Artie MeGovern for that.
I figured il was poor rule If il wouldn't
work both ways. so when found Artie
and his gym had taken a lot Of weight
OF Babe Ruth I thought he might be
able to Dut third as much on me.
Colts "a gamble and the lightning
strikes sometimes when you least ex-
pect il. but you have to take steps 70
be as right as YOU can for the big tests.
The physical part ] have found not so
important. for golf itself keeps one who
plays steadily in shape. It's a terrific
mental strain through q big champion
ship and IL you go through without
cracking YOU are lucky.
81 ran into this at Worcester in the
open of 1925 At the end Of the third
round thought I was in perfect posi-
ton. ] had Just shot 4 90 for a 81
hole total Of 2Iz and was stroke back
OF Willie Macfarlane. BOBBY Jones was
: strokes back and Francis Ouimet 2.
BIames Photographers.
81 thought was In, for I believed
that could overhaul Willie and stave
OF Bobby and Francis.
G9AA J. VOC k&SJf0EAGPASEA AAEAAN OA% GA
that championship chance When
came IN after getting my last putt down
for the &c. the photographers all rushed
up 70 take my picture. OF course, !
couldn't refuse. but believe that II !
had slipped into the clubhouse from the
eighteenth green, my name would be on
the cup.
you know what happened. I took
Ts on the final 1e. the same number
Willie needed and Bobby came around
IN "a TO tie Willie, and there was a
play-of. which Macfarlane won
Johnny is frequently referred 20 as
the games best-dressed golfer.
Does II help your play 70 be well
grOomed2" he was asked.
+fYou bet" was the prompt reply. ]
have more assurance and feel better all
around when know that will stack
I'D al right on my clothes with the
big galleries looking al me" Johnny
has 30 sweaters. a dozen suits, several
dozen pairs Of hose and six pair Of
shoes
@sghoes are important" he said. 81
change frequently and / have both rub
Der and spikes. And Ia the Fall white
and black or white and tan look too
Eummery, 50 have TO have plain tan,
TOO"
Only PRE-" Not 'the Pro-"
Johnny stresses the fact that he Is
"pro7 al the Quaker Ridge club mot
sfhe pYo' he said. The pro is my
brother. Jim. He's the works. not l."
The hardest putt the putting