The Washington times., 1936-04-06
Jones' Old
.SkiULacks

BY DAVIS J. WALSH

International News Service Editor
AUGUSTA, Ca, April 6.-Some-
time between sunrise and night
fall today, provided there happens
to be q sun to rise, which is doubt
full, the annual masters golf
championship will be concluded
not only for this year but, in all
probability, as an event that is
worth ones invaluable time and
earnest attention. I mean that
this is the last time it will assume
and consume national attention
as something that determines
whether Robert T. Jones can play
one tournament q year and still
be a man to intrigue the masses
and capture the bold face type.
BY this time, we all know. He
isn't, he can't, he won't. His two
78'S fol. total Of 156 while Harry
Cooper was shooting 70, else
to lead the field at the halfway
point has established two salient
points, as follows: He, the man
who used to play all the cham.
pionShip golf on two continents,
is now just another bloke named
Jones and his masters tourna-
ment Is only the Pensacola open
all over again, with the clipped
enunciation, and the broad A.
OF course, there may be no such
thing as q Pensacola open but,
what with the rain and the inter
mittent postponements, there may
be no finish Of the masters either.
AS 1t Is, there Is more than q pos
sibility that the final SO holes
today, If any, will be played over
a 16-hole golf course.
Rain . Handicap
That will come about If the
creek at the twelfth rises to q
gorge, thus preventing the ster-
ling performers from proceeding
to the thirteenth tee, the idea be-
ing that further rain will render
the ford impossible without pom.
toon bridge. Just as q gag, it was
suggested last night, when the
boys were feeling the thump OF
their fourth cocktail, that they
have a bottomed boat on hand,
there being another idea behind
this suggestion.
Anyhow, If it rains again, they
intend to eliminate the twelfth
and thirteenth holes and play the
first and second all over again at
the close Of each round. A little
more of this and we'll all go wire
haired and run down the middle
Of the fairway, gibbering in q
strange tongue. They simply must
finish SO holes today or there will
be nothing for it but to hasten
away from the vicinity and come
back some time by mistake.
The Jones myth has become
such that they're now talking Of
the value of legendary prestige.
And why, for example, isn't it
that more is made of Freddie Nc
Leod and George Sargent who
won championships Is years ago?
Cooper Leads by Five
Getting back to trubadorS OF
every tee between Fort Worth and
Fort Lauderdale, Cooper is five
strokes ahead of his field this
morning, with Denny Shute and
Bobby Cruiksank in second place
at IA strokes. At las is Paul
Runyan, Horton Smith, AL Es-
pinoSa, Gene Sarazen, the defend
ing champion, and KY Laffoon.
There are others, many others,
but I'm afraid they do not count.
One cannot come from more than
six strokes back and do the slight
est thing about it.
OF those mentioned, 1t is my sus-
picion that Smith and Sarazen,
the two preceding champions,
along count as plausible contend
ers. They have the single-purpose
temperament that makes for six
ties during the final day.
AS for Cooper, the prevailing
impression Is that he has shot all
Of his golf and is now due to play
a little croQuet. Be that as 1t
might, five strokes are something
you wouldn't want to give this
impressionable and whimsical gent
and then propose to start out and
play him q $40 Nassau.