The Washington times., 1929-09-24
MAKES ACE.
WHEN |RED
BY PUT IS
By George A. Simpson

rr6uuy MC1COu, NOCOA I'LL
pro at the Columbia Country
Club, has executed countless
golf shots that, from the point
of technique and skill, were
gems. Close to so years in
age, he is in the sunset of
his golfing days.
The midget pro. who could never
keep step with the heavy hitters
because of his lack of weight,
admits he can't play a crisp iron
shot today with the same finesse
and grace that stamped his game
in his heydey.
However, he explains his niblick
ehots-those nifties from the bunk
ers, traps and rough near me
ereen-are delivered with the same
deadly accuracy. Mcleod is
supermaster with the niblick and
few are his equal.
The veteran has clicked ofS some
great shots that gave him joy,
but never has an opportunity pre-
scented itself where national cham
pionship swung in the balance.
His greatest shot with a cham
pionship at stake took place when
he landed the North and South open
In 1920 at Pinehurst, N. c.
Facing a stiff wind and need.
ing four to win, Mcleod knew
he must pull three great iron
shots to reach the green and
tanned his four, giving him a
S2.hoie total of Ss3. Clarence
Hackney, Atlantic City pro, had
been in with 294. Coming be.
hind and pressing hard was
Walter Hagen. The latter needed
four to win and five to tie
Mcleod. He took a six, tieing
Hackney for second place.
The dean of local pros tells Of his
great shot in the national open
qualifying rounds at Baltusrol in
1915. His tee shot dropped into q
ditch, and water completely covered
the ball by at least two inches. Dld
this discourage Mcleod, especially
when he required three and four
TO survive Iuo ak Oli tiiS AAA ~S"J
No, not the fiber-hearted Mcleod,
who never quits until the last putt
has been sunk.
He gripped his niblick. stepped
down into the ditch and raised the
ball few feet short Of the pin. He
sunk the putt for birdie and Sc
cured a on the final hole.
The funniest shot ever made by
Mcleod was in the P. G. A. finals
in 1920 at the Engineers Club, Long
Island, N. Y. Opposed to jim
Barnes, Mcleod was trapped in a
bunker at the eighth hole. He came
out too fast and the ball scared over
the green while Barnes was lying
safely on the green. Mcleod
couldn't find his ball and was about
to concede the hole.
"Hey, mister, here's your
ball. yelled a small boy who
had been watching the match.
The lad pointed to a stack of
dried grass left by the greenkeeper.
1t was about four feet high and Nc
Ieod's ball had landed on the top,
some eighty yards from the green.
Mcleod could have lifted without
penalty as the dried grass should
not have been on the course. Dis
gusted by the miserable shot, how
ever, he swatted the ball with little
care where it would land. To his
surprise and the spectators as well,
1t bounded onto the geren and rolled
right into the cup. They still gossip
about that shot around New York
clubs
Mcleod tells of another remark
able recovery from the stream that
crosses the No. Is hole at Colum-
bia. Two down and three to play,
he pushed his tee shot into the
stream while his rival got on in
one.
you might as well lift 1t,
Freddy" voiced his foe This is
my hole as I'll take g."
IN play it from where It
lies" replied the determined
Mcleod, unable to sacrifice
stroke.
He lifted the ball on to the green
and ran down his putt. His oppon-
ent gasping at McLeod's comeback,
took three puts and lost the hole.
A despondent shot at Glen Oaks
outside of Chicago, about Is years
ago. resulted in an lace" and plenty
cash. Mcleod was playing cut
throat" golf with six others. betting
pars, brides, bogies and holes with
each player having side bets.
THAT was a lucky one,' relates
Mcleod. II was mad because
had taken four puts On he pre-
ceding hole.