Evening star., 1935-04-02
RIVALS FOR FIRST
TIME SINCE 1880
Pair Carried Off 19 Titles
Between Them in Period
From 1922 to 1882.
BY ALAN GOULD,
Associated Press Sports Editor.

~ sides bringing together the
~ finest field available for the
climax of the Winter circuit,
with as much class and more color
than a national open championship,
the second annual Augusta national
invitation tournament revives a keen
personal rivalry between the greatest
two champions of American post
war golf-Gene Sarazen and Bob
Jones.
They will match shots over the
72-hole route, starting this Thurs
day, for the first time since 1880, the
wear Jones registered his famous
"grand slam" Between 1922 and
1892 these two accounted for a total
of 19 national championships.
Sarazen declined an invitation to
compete in last Springs tournament
here, which marked the return OF
the great Georgian to competition
after a four-year layoff. To make
sure he would not be tempted to
change his mind or yield to persua-
sion, Sarazen left the country and
toured Latin America by airplane.
Feud Once Existed.
"HIS was accepted as fresh evl-
dence of some feeling if not an
actual "feud" between Sarazen
and Jones, growing out OF several
incidents calculated to irritate one
or the other.
No doubt they were magnlfled, but
Gene did put the blast" on Bob a
year or so ago upon hearing the
Georgian would return to competi-
ton if the national open was awarded
the Augusta course. The report
proved untrue and Sarazen subse-
quently regretted his impulsiveness.
If there are any injured feelings
left, however, they are not in evidence
this Spring. Time seems to have
mellowed both former champions.
They have practiced together and
Robert P. Jones, Bobby's popular dad,
teamed up with Gene in a friendly
foursome yesterday.
SaraZen has praised the Augusta
course as the greatest all-around lay
out in the country, though he does
not consider it as tough as Oakmont,
the scene of this years United States
open championship.
Rated Co-Favorites.
CARAZEN, whose sensational play
- so far here has made him a CO.
favorite in the betting with Jones
and Paul Runyan, hopes to signalize
a Comeback of his own in this weeks
all-star all-America golfing battle.
Gene was acclaimed the new world
champion in 1882, when he captured
both the British and American open
titles. He won the National P. G. A.
crown in 1888, but hasn't won big
tournament since then. He blew"
great chances to repeat his open
championship double" last year by
carding rs.
Genes confidence in himself has
been restored by sub-par rounds of
65 and 81 over the Augusta links. He
is hitting the ball better and putting
more consistently than Jones.
Like most observers, Sarazen figures
Jones cannot overcome the handicap
of long absence from hard competi-
tion, even though the Georgian still
knows how to execute all the shots.
But for his erratic putting Jones
would have been well up in last years
tournament here, won by Horton
Smith, with Bob in a tie for thir-
teenth place.
Bob Not Going Well.
THE former emperor of golf isn't
playing as well in practice this
Spring as he did a year ago,
even though he has more confidence
on the greens with a putter which is
built like his celebrated Calamity
Jane" but is much heavier. Unless
he quickly regains control of his irons,
Jones is not likely to be in the run
ming. He is in a tough spot.
This years field of so players is
stronger than the 1884 entry, which
lacked Sarazen, Tommy Armour, Law
son Little, Jimmie Thomson and Olin
Dutra. all now among those present.
Little, holder of both British and
American amateur crowns, and Char
ley Yates, the intercollegiate cham
pion, head strong amateur contin-
gent, which may make the money
players hustle.
The veterans expect Old Man Par
70 for the 6,700-yard layout-to take
a bad beating. They say they won't
be surprised if 280 is broken for 70
holes, but they are always optimists
until the firing begins.