The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-02
Many Ring Scouts Watch Boston Tournament
BY LEO H. PETERSEN Uniked Pres SpOrhs Editor

United Press Sports Editor
 New York, April 2-UP)-It looked like the end of the trail to- day for another member of the Old Guard which made the l920's the Colder Era" of sports.
 For when the field tees off Thursday over the masters course at Atlanta, Ga, in the closing golf tournament of the winter sea- son, Robert Tyre Jones will be nlis- sing. He decided he was too far off his game to take part in the event which annually saw the one time emperor of the links in his only competitive golf since he put Calamity Jane and his other clubs away in 1880.
 My game will simply not justi- fy my playing" Jones advised tournament chairman Bud Bicknell. I've been doing lots of things be- sides golfing recently, and my game is way off. I don't see any use going in if can't play seri- ously. I win sincerely I could get in it because am heartily in favor of the cause for which it is played" !"
 Technically, he will not be mis- sing his first masters since he started the annual affair for this year it is known as the iron lung tournament" with all proceeds out side the $10,00O prize money going toward the purchase of an iron lung.
 But it still will be held on the annual dates that the masters was played before it was suspended after the 1942 renewal and it won't seem the same with Bobby in the gallery instead of inside the ropes. He hopes that after the war he may be able to compete az in but has 43 now and the chances are against it.
 He started the masters in 1882 on course which he designed to the specifications he deemed essen- tial in a golf layout. Two years before he had retired from compe- titive golf after hanging up 8 rec ord which never had been equalled
 In 1920 he scored the grand slam of golf, winning the British and U. s. amateur and open titles. For years before that he had put the professionals of his game to shame. From 1923 through 1880 he won 13 major titleS-five American anna teurs; one British amateur; three British opens and four American opens.
 It was a feat few thought poSsi- ble and there are plenty of persons who will give you an argument that Jones in his heyday could not have whipped such stars of today as Byron Nelson and Sammy Snead. But he was as good as he had to be and until someone comes along to duplicate his grand slam he still will be the champion of champions in golf. He never Scorec sensationally, but his rounds al- ways were steady enough to win.
 He had in golf in those fabulous 2O's what Babe Ruth had in base ball, Man O War in racing, Bill Tilden and Helen Wills in tennis and Jack Dempsey in boxing. He had color, too-and Calamity Jane. the most famous club in golfing history.
 It was a gooSenecked butter. It and his driver were Bobby's chief tools in the trade.
 He leaves the little part he still played in the game like the cham pion he was on the links. For when he was instrumental in get ting the masters started he knew he had no chance of winning. But after a two year retirement he in- Wted the greatest players in the game to come down to his back yard and lick him. They did-but it wasn't Emperor Jones they licked; it was Lawyer Jones who got in his only golf over week-endS.