Evening star., 1940-07-13
The
SPoRTLIGHT
Modern Colts Putters
Lack Old Sturs' Touch
BY GRANTLAND RICE.

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NEW YORK, July 10 (N.A.N.A)-
Who are the greatest putters that
golf ever has known?
am referring here to those who
had to prove their skill along the
carpet under championship fire. I
put the debate up to Gil Nichols.
the veteran pro at Deepdale, who
has seen them come and go for 40
years or more.
Gould you name five putters,"
asked Gil. from 20 years back or
longer who could match the five
best putters we have today?"
Suppose you name the five best
modern putters," Nichols said in
return. II think I can match them
from the old guard"
MY nominations were Horton
Smith, Paul Runyan, Billy Burke,
Johnny Revolta and Henry Picard.
You can add Gene Sarazen and
Harry Cooper to this list.
That's quite a group" Gil said,
"but I think can beat 1t. In fact,
I think I can name the four best
putters of all time. Who are they?
Walter J. Travis, Jerry Travers,
Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen"
Mcleod Is Given Place
With Greet Putters
II am referring now to tourna-
ment putters. doubt that any two
men could do more with a putting
blade than Travis and Travers,"
said Nichols. Both used the old
Schenectady, the center-shafted
type. They had to be great putters,
because neither had the distance
carried by leading stars.
Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen
were almost as good as Travis and
Travers," the veteran continued.
Each always has had a beautiful
putting style, perfect striking mo-
ton, with Jones just little steadier
at every type of putt.
These four are not the only ones.
Willie Anderson was grand put
ter. SO was Freddie Mcleod, and
SO was Tommy Mcnamara. You can
add any of these to the other four
have mentioned and I'll take them
against the world"
Few realize how many tough
matches Bobby Jones saved around
the green. can mention st. An
drews, Hoylake. Minikahda, Inter.
lachen, Merton, Winged Foot-on
and Of hie 1.
faculty or the needed touch re-
qlired to get the ball Just to the
cup. You rarely saw one of his
puts pop in and then pop out.
Hozen Wos Remarkable
When Under Fire
Hagen, like Jones, was a mag
nificent putter under fire. He was
one OF the most relaxed competitors
under pressure golf ever has known.
No more relaxed, however, than
Jerry Travers was.
Gil began talking Of the other
side-the heavy penalties paid by
poorer putters at the cost Of many
championships.
| Harry Vardon was terrible put
ter" Nichols said. Harry won six
major opens. but with a better
putting style or touch he might have
won 10 or IL.
Johnny McDermott was an
other ragged putter, yet he won two
United States opens in a row. You
can say the same thing about Chick
Evans. Chick won the United States
open and the United States anna.
teur. If he could have handled a
putter like Travis. Travers, Jones,
Hagen or Horton Smith believe
he would have bagged at least five
or six more major titles"
Smooth Strokins Motion
Used by Masters
What is the secret Of good put
ting?" asked the Deepdale in
structor.
Most of the great putters used
different stances" Gil said. Jones
ano Travers were much more up.
right than either Travis or Hagen.
o~AN>o eAANk - oN Sl SOOOo Will IIlSlI
feet closer together. They all had
smooth stroking motion, such as
Horton Smith has today.
Putting is more individual than
any other stroke in golf" Nichols
continued. Walter Travis used to
say that golf was two games-from
tee to green and then the putter.
This is true. I'd say one of the
main factors in good putting was
the ability to ward off tenseness,
the ability to keep relaxed. Add to
that the ability to keep concentrate
ing.
"One of the main putting faults
is any extended knee or body move
ment through the stroke. Another
Is moving the head. There are al
most no good putters who take the
blade back quickly. This leads to
a jab or stab. Many puts that hit
the back Of the cup refuse to drop
through this fault"