Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-05
BRITISH L|NKSMEN
DISLIKE j. S. BALL
Would Be Suicidal to Use in
Carnoustie Tournament,
Sarazen Asserts.
BY FRANK III. KING,
Associated Press STAFF Writer.

- ARNOUSTIE, Scotland, June 5
(P).-The new American bal
loon golf ball has made no
friends in Great Britain, says
Gene Sarazen, one Of the leading
American favorites in today's fighting
finish of the British open golf cham
pionship.
"On Carnoustie's gale-sWept links"
said Gene, sit would be suicidal to
championship aspirations to attempt to
use the balloon ball"
AS far as the average golfer is con-
cerned. Sarazen declared, he wouldn't
break hundred Even John de Forest,
who is a fine golfer and was finalist
in the recent British amateur cham
pionship, needed At going out yester-
day.
with the balloon ball" Sarazen COM
mented. he probably would have need
ed 10 more"
Unsuitable to Conditions.
Sarazen came to England prepared to
give the American bail a thorough try
out. He practiced with it a little while
until he became convinced of its I'M
suitability under British playing con-
ditions.
Then he began giving the bigger balls
away to Scotch friends and to use the
old standardized ball.
Other Americans had similar expert
ences and none has hit q shot with
the bigger ball in British competition,
says SaraZen, whose case against the
balloon ball is that it doesn't hold to
the greens; that the wind blows it off
line, and, if any stronger than it was
yesterday, probably clear off the greens.
The heavy ball also is truer in the air,
Sarazen declares. going right through
air pockets which affect the lighter
missile.
The New York pro maintains that
British air, which at Carnoustie is
heavy and moist, is entirely unlike the
American brand of atmosphere, which
even in windy conditions does not af-
feet the flight of the balloon ball.
Sarazen thinks the different models
of golf balls authorized for competitive
use in Great Britain and the United
States will have a detrimental effect
on international golf. Americans here
have bsen busy remodeling their clubs,
putting more lead in the heads to suit
the heavy ball.
Faces Tough Assignment.
when go home" said Gene. IN
have only four days to refashion my
clubs again and adapt myself to the
big ball before defending my Western
open title at Dayton. Similarly, the
British Ryder Cup team playing this
tournament at Carnoustie will have but
a short time to adapt themselves to
playing with the balloon ball at Scioto."
Sarazen's tip is that the British team
hasn't a ghost of chance against the
Americans with the big ball. With
golf a world game as indicated by the
international character of the field
here, SaraZen thinks that one stand
ardized ball should be in use in all
countries.
Sarazen doesn't claim to be any diplo-
mat in golf but he has studied the
art of mastering the golf ball, and not
without considerable success. British
golf critics today still were talking about
his great shot to the sixteenth green
yesterday. 235-yard drive to the pin
on the gale-sWept green. Golf news
travels like wildfire in CarnouStie, and
the whole town says Sarazens screamer
at this difficult one-shotter was the
best of the day.