Evening star., 1933-02-26
TENTH WIN IN ROW
|SAMER|CANS' AIM
With Many Star Pros Going
Over, Chance of Holding
Cup Appears Bright.
By FRANCIS ]. POWERS.

~HICAGO, February Is
Judging from their tenn
~ per and intentions our
United States profession
ais do not intend that Great
Britain shall regain possession of
its open golf championship this
year. The British have had
their hands on the historic old
mug only once since 1921 and If
one of our lads can win it again
this Summer, it will be 10 straight
trips across the Atlantic for the
title and trophy.
With the United States Ryder Cup
team competing in England this year,
chances of our making it 10 in row
are very bright. Gene Sarazen has an.
nounced his intention of retaining the
honors he won at Princes last Spring
and if he gets back into his best form
he will be a hard man to check par
ticularly If he is putting. So he goes
down as No. / bidder for the British
title
Then there is Walter Hagen. making
his first trip across the Atlantic in
several years. Hagen has wen the
British open four times and one of his
chief ambitions is five victories, which
would put him right up with J. H.
Taylor and Jamie Braid and only one
behind Harry Vardon. The Haig has
not been in the championship class for
quite few years, but he always seems
to play inspired golf in Britain and
he may regain his old formula. At
least he has a chance.
0LIN DUTRA must be considered
~ seriously in the American chal-
lenge for the British open. 1t will
be Dutra's first trip abroad and, while
fortune seldom favors a player in his
initial expedition to Great Britain,
Olin may be different.
In the first place he's a grand wind
player, the very best in the world ac-
cording to some critics. so the breezes
that whip and lash ST. Andrews may
not bother him. Dutra also is a keen
and steady putter with liking for slick,
fast greens. so he should be at home on
the auld Scottish course Dutra will
be the dark horse among the Americans,
and even should he fail to win he is
certain to please the British with his
style of golf.
And Craig Wood, if he can hold his
present putting touch, is strong candi-
date, for the New Jersey star is straight
and long. Wood never will be short on
confidence, and that counts for much in
a big championship. Horton Smith will
have try at the championship and SO
will Leo Diegel. who often has finished
well up in the British.
1 presume Tommy Armour will make
Il &c
land, and right now the black Scot is
playing golf the equal to any that ever
flew from his gifted clubs. On any
Scottish course Armour is a threat and
he is training seriously for the task
Mac Smith Usually is contestant in
the British open and it is unlikely he
will pass st. Andrews by. Then there
is Danny Shute, getting better each
season and fine iron player and deft
putt2r. 1t will be a strong crew that
will represent the United States at ST.
Andrews.
THE British will have no new play
i ers Of outstanding worth to repel
the American invasion. The burden
again will fall on Archie Compston,
Percy Alliss, Fred HaverS and the Whit
combe brothers. E. j. Padgham may be
a factor, for he has played exception
ally well during the past year, and there
are one or two youngsters of unproven
promise. At this distance another
American victory looms, although moth
ing is certain in golf.
Americas dominance in the British
open started at st. Andrews in 1921,
when Jock Hutchison won after a play
of with Roger Wethered, and it is un-
likely our home breds will allow 1t to
o,il,, ~,
that venue
And while the professionals are
gathered at ST. Andrews they all can
take a crack at the 285 score made
there by Bob Jones in 1927. Betcha
they don't break that score.