The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-07-01
LACK
BRNLIANCE
OF JONES
BY Davis J. Walsh

49, ID -
BY Davis ]. Walsh
NEW YORK, July Word
was expected hourly today to
the effect that an enterprising
coal dealer had gone and de-
liyered another load to New
Castle and, while definite in.
formation was lacking, a GER
tain dog, well known to the
authorities, was believed TO be
a vegetarian no longer.
He is understood to have bitten
the man again, once more beating
the latter to the bite. And while
we are reaching for another seda-
tive, it might as we'll be mentioned
that Bobby Jones won another golf
championship yesterday.
He won the thirty-third Of q
list of national open events out at
Winged Foot in a play off that
rapidly became laugh off after
the first six or seven holes. So
that il there is any further biting
to be done around here, the man
will do it. Without further soIicia-
ton he will so around behind the
clubhouse and bite himself.
The man in this particular
instance is Al EspinOsa. who
tied Jones for the title on Satur-
day and then lost by 20 strokes
g., Her e<- ala ~sA9R
ably as bad a beating as ever
one ranking star gave another
on a golf course.
Jones had medal rounds of 70 in
the morning and So in the afternoon
for a 36-hole total of 141, three I'M
der par. Espinosa had S4 in the
morning and 80 in the afternoon.
and you have to figure for yourself
just how much over par this is, be-
cause Espinosa is worthy young
man and it is fast becoming neces-
sary to maintain some kind Of q
censorship over details in connec.
ton with what Bobby Jones, the
amateur, does to professional
golfers. Yesterday he broke Es-
pinosa as one might break the back
of a June bug.
1t Is a fitting commentary on
professional golf in relation to Jones
that his opponent of yesterday
eminently deserved his place in
the play off. He was the best pro-
fessional in the regular tournament
that ended on Saturday, so that 1t
is obvious that professional golf can
have no hope Of self-expression in
what is virtually its own tourna-
ment until the monotony of winning
pals on Jones and he retires to q
life of ease and refinement among
his law books.
Hagen still can win the
British Open but 1t is apparent
that the best of him is dead.
Farrell won ~ n play off with
Jones in 1928 but every front
rank golfer has one big year
and probably this was JOhnny's.
He didn't even quality for the
final two rounds Of this tourna
ment. Sarazen also had a single
season of brilliance but this was
seven years ago. He still is good
but not good enough. Neither APP
parently is Armour. who won the
open title in 1927 and very little
since. Diegel lacks consistency; so
does Mehlhorn. As for the Smiths,
Horton and Mac, It might seem
that neither is what they call a
big tournament player.
However, all of those mentioned
are great golfers and they would
be "up in the lights" today. pamp-
cred heroes OF their profession, If
1t wasn't for one thing. Their
briIliance is as so much brass In
comparison with that of Jones.
Furthermore, they are getting old
trying to beat him. If professional
golf is to sponsor a man who can
meet this amateur phenomenon on
common ground, day in and day
out. that man eemingly must come
from the younger school. The old
guard is definitely passing.
Horton Smith, being young, is a
possibility, unless that winter sea
son Of his down south was Just 80
many horse collars and cuffs.
Densmore Shute, who finished in a
tie with Sarazen for third place,
two strokes behind the leaders. Is
also . potential champion.
Anyhow, something win have
to be done, what with the good
pros getting old and Jones
carrying on from year 20 year
without q noticeable break In
his stride.
He did falter at Olympia FIELDS
last year to let Farrell into n tie
with him and later the title. and
Saturday he blew himself to his
worst round OF championship
history, q Ts that includeA two
rs. But these incidents serve
their purpose only as evidences that
Jones is human. They prove that
ne can play bad golf. The only
trouble II that most OF the time he
doesn't.
As to that, q ~ at Winged Foot
Is bad golf only in the sense that
the public has come to look upon
Jones a. omnipotent. Espanosa.. for
instance. would have been glad to
have done as well yesterday. But
suppose that q man whose re-
cord includes three open titIea. two
ties in which he lost the play off
and the loss of two more cham.
pionships by q stroke since 1888 IL
not expected to go wrong any time
1t must be that Jones'. by his
perfection, has spoiled his public.
He alone broke 20 during the tour.
4 ma 33F