BRITISH GOLF TITLE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24910, 25 June 1946, Page 5

BRITISH GOLF TITLE

ENTRIES FOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

STRONG TEAM FROM AMERICA (Special Correspondent N.Z.PA.) (Rec. 9 pan.) LONDON, June 23. The reverses Britain has already suffered in tennis may very well be repeated in golf when the first British open championships to be played since 1939 are held on the Old and New courses at St. Andrew’s from July 1 to 6. Many of Britain’s best golfers and courses paid the toll of war. and golf writers who had recent opportunities of studying the game qn both sides of the Atlantic consider that British stan- • dards at present are 10 years behind the Americans.

The disadvantages under which British players labour have been realised by the Americans, whose Professional Golfers’ Association recently suggested that its members should not participate in this year’s British open. However, although there are a number of notable American absentees, including the new open champion Lloyd Mangrum, Byron Nelson, and Ben Hogan, the Americans are sending a very strong team to St Andrew’s. It includes Gene Sarazen, winner of the British open in 1932, Jommy Armour, winner in 1931, Johnny Bulla, runner-up to Richard Burton in the last championship in 1939, Jimmy Demaret, one of the present leading American professionals, and Lawson JLittle. ■Among other prominent overseas B layers entered are the South Africans, lobby Locke, Graham Packer, anti B. Nieuwenhays, the Australians. Norman von Nida and Joe Kirkwood (now domiciled in America), the Spaniards, Mariano Sanz and Mercellino Albaran, and G. P. de Wit (Holland), F van Donck (Belgium), Harry Bradshcw (Eire), and Harry Karlsson (Sweden). Richard Burton, who recently failed by nine strokes to qualify in the American open championship, will be defending his title. Other leading British comSetitors will be Henry Cotton. Dai Rees, . Adams, Arthur Lees, and Frank Jowle (professionals), Robert Sweeney. C. H. Tolley, S. B. Williamson, and Alex. Kyle (amateurs). James Biruen. the new British amateur champion, is not competing. The first two qualifying rounds will be played on July 1 and 2, and 100 of the 264 entrants will qualify for the 72hole championship proper. Special arrangements have been made by the Royal and Ancient Club for the control of spectators, who on this occasion will be relegated to the sidelines behind rope barriers.