Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-26

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- conditions under which the
1881 Ryder Cup matches
between professional teams rep
resenting Great Britain and the
United States-will be played at
the Scioto Country Club, Colum-
bus, Ohio, in June.
They object to the use of the new
American bah in the matches, and also
to the barring of Percy Allis and
Aubrey Boomer from the British team
while Leo Diegel is permitted to COM
pete for the United States.
The British are. convinced there is
considerable difference in the perform
ance of the old and new golf balls. In
commenting upon the question one
prominent British writer declared:
THE Americans will start with a
huge advantage. since they will have
been playing the ball for several
months, while our men will have to go
to it with comparative suddenness the
American ball is definitely more dill
cult to play, and it requires a more
varied and highly perfected technique"
With regard to Allis and Boomer, 1t
seems that neither will be eligible, since
there is some new arrangement whereby
professionals attached to foreign clubs
may not compete in the internationals.
Boomer is at st. Cloud, France, while
Allis is stationed at Berlin. Hence II
the rule is enforced neither can COM
pete for Britain. and it loses two of its
~ - 10 kIA nVit feI re
asking as to the status of Leo Diegel,
who serves at the Aqua Caliente Club,
just over the California border in
Mexico.
Veteran British Team.
The British will send out a veteran
team, with Charles Whitcombe as cap
tain, but apparently have little hope
of repeating the victory scored at Moor
town, England, In the 1929 matches.
With Boomer and Allis missing, the
1881 team will not be so strong as pre-
vious British combinations, and there
are no young stars, with the exception
of Henry Cotton, to replace the missing
veterans.
In addition to Charles Whitcombe,
the British are almost certain to select
George Duncan, Abe Mitchell, Ernest
Wl1itcombe, Archie Compston, Fred
ESoDSOn anu E1enIy CoCDon, Al Cley aE
able to make the journey, and pick
three others from group that includes
A. j. Lacy, w. r. Davies, j. Donaldson,
Willie Large, Bert Hodson and Bert
jolly.
Charles whitcombe Is recognized as
the leading British professional, and
holds both the professional champion
ship Of Great Britain and the Irish
open title. He is a powerful hitter,
who is also keen around the greens
and capable match for any star. His
nomination to lead the British over
George Duncan was somewhat of q sur
prise but is was agreed he deserved the
honor.
Mitchell and Duncan are veterans Of
many years, campaigning and rather
over the peak of their best form, but
still very capable on certain days.
Archie Compston perhaps is the most
impressive, and his fine play is well
known to Americans. Ernest Whit
com6e lacks some of the finish found
in his brothers game. but nevertheless
Is q fine player, and Fred Robson has
come back tremendously during the
past two years.
Cotton Fast Improving.
Henry Cotton undoubtedly will be
the finest professional player in all
Britain before long. He still Is quite
young, and it is reported he has made
over his game to comply with the
American pattern. Cotton visited the
United States several years ago, but
has improved greatly during the in
term. Hodson and Jolly are rather
well known, although they never have
rated with the top-notchers of their
land
Against this British team the United
States will be able to present the
strongest front it ever has offered in
the internationals. Walter Hagen, Leo
Diegel, Horton Smith, Gene Sarazen,
Johnny Farrell and Al Espinosa are
certainties on the team, and a group
Of 20 stars viii compete for the other
two places In a special tryout staged
Just before the matches.
In view of the fact that Hagen has
won nothing in more than a year and
that Farrell also has been in a slump,
1t might have been better for the
United States P. @. A. to have selected
the entire team through a competitive
tryout. But it is hard to break away
from the old order. and the veterans
will be given the preference so long as
there is a chance of them delivering