Evening star., 1936-01-16

have overlapped, but also nave
covered a period of 40 years OF
competition. Here you have the PROOF
of form, the reward OF souno 1unoa-
mentals in the swing.
Vardon began his march to the top
lust about 40 years ago. He still mas
an almost perfect swing, although MS
tournament time is done. From
around 1896 to 1912 he won six Brit
ish opens and one United States open
In 1918 he tied for the United Staoes
open with Ted Ray and Francis Oul-
met. losing in a play-of to Oulmet at
Brookline. That happened to be the
wear when Hagen, then kid OF 2o'
first threatened in the same cnam-
nionship. He still had chance, with
only six holes to go, when a orasSie
shot in the rain wandered otf-llne ana
killed his chance.
Hagen won a year later at Mid
lothian. His record has known two
United States opens, four British opens
and FIVE P. G. A. titles. to say notnlng
of more than As additional titles from
France to San Francisco.
Led in Three Meetings.
THE paths of Hagen and Vardon
l. crossed at Brookline in 1913 ana
again at Inverness in 1920, where VAR
don tied for second place. Tney
crossed at Deal in 1920, where Hagen
finished ffty-ffth. In each OF these
three crossings it was Vardon VINO
had the better score.
But from that point on Vardon be-
ran to fall back as the younger Hagen
came on to win the British open four
times. Hagen's five P. G.. A. victories,
where he won "a out Of Is conse2u-
tive matches against the pick OF the
pro field, come close to being the finest
achievement in all golf.
Hagen was just coming on as Var
don was fading out. Yet in 1920 at
Inverness, when Vardon was around
4s, he beat both Hagen and Bobby
Jones by several strokes. Vardoh
would have won that year by some
thing to spare if heavy thunder
storm and a western gale hadn't
caught him down the stretch, after
most Of the others had finished.
"I could have done better kicking
the ball around with my boot" he
said in regard to his last six holes,
which he played in 7 over par. He
had played 80 consecutive holes in
even par before the storm battered
him back. Age and weather together
we're more than he could meet.
A Star After % Years.
VARDoN's game stood the test OF
" nearly 80 years of competition.
Hagen has been hammering away
around the front for % years and he
still Is one of the stars of golf. Only
last June he came swinging down the
stretch at Oakmont with chance to
win, and he finished third, only
stroke or two away.
Hagen led the P. G. A. qualifying
field at Oklahoma City with two re-
r1arkable par-beating rounds. He has
been playing better golf the last year
than he played when he first won at
Midlothian. % years ago, or at Brae-
burn, where he won in 1919.
He is hitting the ball better from
tee to green. but the silklike smooth
ness of his putting touch has left him.
Hagen today. nearing A, is as fine
swinger as there is in all golf. There
is no greater competitor, no wiser head
under fire. But the puts that once
fell no longer find the bottom OF the
cup.
Colts Soundest Swinger.
NARDON probably was the soundest
~ swinger Of a golf club from tee
to green who ever lived. He never was
a good putter. at least never in the
class Of Hagen, Jones, Travis and
Travers. But he was rarely of the
line with wood or iron.
Some one asked j. H. Taylor, the
greatest Of all mashie players, how he
and Vardon compared. Harry" j. H.
replied, sis straighter with brassie
than am with mashie"
In his earlier years, Vardon smother
ed opponents, the pick of the field.
II he had been a good putter, he
might have won a dozen opens. But
the ease and
.-~&I grace of his play
V ~ along the fairway
R NVN faded out as he