Evening star., 1935-04-23
ICONS TO FRONT
kSARMOUR PUPIL
Never Knew Two Years Ago
Whether He Would Hit
Green With Mashie.
BY w. r. McCALLUM.
.WO years ago he didn't know
whether he would even hit the

whether he would even hit the
green from 160 to ITO yards
away. Today he Is one Of the
most accurate iron players IN the
world, O golfng Colossus standing
astride the amateur players Of the
world as Bobby Jones stood Eve years
ago.
w. Lawson Little, jr., American and
British amateur champion, one Of two
men who have won both major titles
in q single year, wasn't sure "a
months ago that he would hit the
green even on medium length short
hole. But today he Is ranked among
the great iron players Of the world,
man who consistently has as many
puts for brides on the short holes as
any man hitting the ball on either
side Of the Atlantic.
At the age of az it looked as II Law
son, two years back, was going no
where in particular. True, he was
even then great golfer from the tee,
and like so many lengthy hitters. was
one Of the better putters-a man who
broke the hearts of many oppo-
nents by the regularity with which
he rolled in the 15-footers. But when
it came to the niceties of delicate iron
play he was a flop. He admitted 1t
himself at Indian Spring yesterday.
where he played an exhibition match
before departing for New York, where
he will sail Friday for England to de-
fend his British amateur crown, and
make bid for the British open title.
Tommy Armour Shows Him.
TOMMY ARMOUR, late Of Con-
l gressional, admittedly the mas
ter of the iron clubs, Is the
chap who put the pin-seeking punch
in Lawson Iittle's iron shots.
Before Lawson went to Chicago to
spend a week with Tommy in the
Summer of 1888, he wasn't sure when
he took his iron in hand on q hole
ranging from 165 to 100 yards.
whether he even would hit the put
ting surface. As for playing for the
pin, that was out like Queen Mary's
Easter bonnet in a Park avenue
parade.
Today that fear of bunkers; that
hex that he won't hit the putting sur
face on the short holes no longer
bothers the wearer of the worlds
twin amateur golf crowns. No more
does he play simply for the middle
Of the putting green's. As did the
Bob Jones Of the years between 1919
and 1880, Little steps up nowadays
and whacks that apple on Q dead
line for the pin.
The fear Of missed iron shots is
gone. In its place has come the
confidence that rode him through the
two great amateur tournaments of
the world In 1884 and that may bring
him to greater glory this year. For
both Armour and Gene Sarazen admit
it is not outside the range of posi-
bilities that Little may bridge the
golf end become one Of the few
simon-pures to become a real threat
for the U. S. and British open titles.
skips American Open.
r AWSON won't play in the Ameri-
l. can open championship at Oak
mont in June, but he may be
real figure in the British open title
tilt, and If he does he will lay 1t all
to the change in his iron play.
Without first-class iron range
finding, no man can become a
champion. He can lay 'em a mile
from the tee, smack in the middle
of the fairway. He can putt like
Bob Jones at his best, but if he can't
find the range Of the pin from 10
yards or split the line at any rea.
sonable iron distance to put him in
putting position he never will be a
champion.
That was the Lawson Little of two
years back, one of the great hitters
of the world. and a potential cham
pion, but Woefuly weak with the
irons. To-day the young man Is one
] of the finer iron masters of the world.