Evening star., 1936-03-31
IS Z, 6, 3
ON AUGUSTA LIST
Pros Feel 1t Is His Year
and Sure He'll Finish
Among First Six.
BY ALAN GOULD.
Associated Press Sports Editor.

UGUSTA, ga, Marcn ol.-lne
n Georgia cheering section has
~ its fingers crossed. as conse-
4 a quence of two previous disap-
pointments, but the signs today point
unmistakably to a comeback by its
favorite golfing son. Robert Tyre Jones,
jr., in the forthcoming third Augusta
national invitation tournament.
Just where his current return to
form will land him is strictly matter
Of speculation. Much as the golf
world would thrill to see him achieve
it, Jones probably won't win the To-
hole medal scoring race with Americas
foremost shotmakers, starting this
Thursday and finishing on Sunday.
The odds today were "12, s and 8"
against his chances of finishing l-2-3
but the price already has shortened. as
direct result of Bob's sensational
practice rounds, including new course
record OF 64, and may-drop again.
Playing Fine Golf.
EVEN with the customary discount
- for practice scores. where the
pressure is of. there's no doubt the
34-year -old Atlanta lawyer is playing
consistently finer golf than since he
retired from the wars six years ago
with all the trophies one man could
possibly find room for on the mantel-
piece.
Jones Is down to championship
weight" 10 pounds under what he
scaled for last years tournament.
He has been playing more as well
as better golf. Finally. he has re-
gained the old Jones putting touch
and his confidence along with it. Just
how much of his recovery on the
green's Is due to Calamity Jane" the
original of his world-famous putter,
may be open TO debate. but it is GER
tain the "old girl is doing her part.
Three successive rounds of 64-7o-
GO, 81 holes In exactly IA under par,
with an average 80 puts per round,
tell the story of what Bob Jones and
Calamity Jane" have been doing late
ly on the Augusta nationals undulat-
ing greens. He has made par golf
look easy.
Putter May Decide.
THE professionals, who make up the
bulk of the all-star field gather
ing here. frankly forecast a Jones
year" They figure Bob an even-
money bet TO finish among the first
half dozen, the way he is playing
now. and consider he has real
chance to finish on top. if his putter
stays hot"
Bracketing Jones with Henry Picard,
the Hershey PaJ professional. and
w. Lawson Little. jr.. the amateur
king, as his best bets" in the entire
field. Gene Sarazen. the 1885 tourna-
nent winner. said today:
Jones is in an ideal spot now to
make a comeback. The pressure of
the first two tournaments here is of,
but not his incentive. With his old
confidence back he is bound to come
nearer championship form than at any
time since he retired. His practive
scores do not mean so much as the
fact he is hitting the ball well and
putting like the Jones who won l3
national championships here and
abroad"
Bobby Is on Spot.
IN EFFECT this is the third strike"
for Jones in a tournament played
over the course he helped design. He
has been out of the money list in both
previous comebacks, finishing in a tie
for thirteenth in 1884 and twenty
seventh last Spring.
He knows that his friends have ex-
pected too much of him. that there
no substitute for competition and that,
in fact. he is leading with his chin"
by taking on the shot makers who
make golf their business, but he's all
set to give 'em brisk argument this
time.
Sarazen. Picard, Little. Johnny Re-
volta. the P. c. A. champion; Ed Dud-
ley, the home club pro: Horton Smith.
who shot a hole-in-one yesterday on
the 190-yard fourth; Paul Runyan,
Craig Wood and Harry Cooper are
rated with Jones as the favored group.
"Torchy" Toda, the Japanese open
champion, who made his first practice
circuit Of the course in 68. four under
par, is rated among the dark horses
of the field.