GOLFING "CHARACTERS."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 14

GOLFING "CHARACTERS."

$ ANDREW KIRKALDY AND BEN SAYERS. (By East Devon, in the "Daily Mail.") No golf match of recent years has aroused moro interest than tbo ono which took place at Sunningdalo and Walton Heath on Thursday and Friday, November 9 and 10, between Andrew Jwrkaldy, of St. Andrews, and Ben Buyers, sen., of North Berwick. Although the contest was of tho keenest nature and the play of a very high order, it is tho personalities of the two protagonists which stimulated the excitement.' Burly Andrew Kirkaldy and "wen" l'ai Bayers are the two greatest "characters" in the golfing world to-day. Andrew Kirkaldy, always famous by reason of his caustic humour, sprang in-. t» further distinction by his nppoinlir.cnf last year as professional to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at i't. Andrews. Previously (hero had never been a playing professional attached to the headquarters ot golf. Alan Robertson, who died in 183!). saw the early development and consolidation of the club, but was only recognised a.s "custodian of tho links." Old Tom Morris, 100, that "grand mil man of golf," was only "custodian," but after his death Andrew Kirkaldy was officially appointed tho first playing professional to tho club. Kirkaldy, who was born in JSfiO, has had an adventurous caroer. Ho began to I.lay gfolf iu good earnest when he was tl irleon years of age, and in 1871 lie finished fourth in a tournament in which such players a.s young Tom Morris, Tom Ki_dd, and Davie Strath were ploying. In 187J he finished second -in the Open Championship to .1 amic Anderson. Two years later ho joined tho Army, and wn.- present at Tol-cl-Kcljir. Ai, amusing story is told of Andrew when lie left tho Army in 1887. His commanding oflieer asked him what ho intended to do. "l>lay gowd'," replied Andrew. "Oh, do you play golf?''. "A woo bit, was Andrew's laconic answer. In 188) he tied for first place in the Open Championship with AVillic Park, but wag lx-aleii w hen tho tic was replaved. However, in a money match, plaved with the victor over four Scottish greens, after a close contest on the other three greens, \irkaldy won decisively at St. Andrews by 8 and 7. There is no keener match player in tho united kingdom; indeed, he is n far better ma I ell player than score player, and underneath his caustic humour lies a very generous and sporting nature. An excellent story i.s told of an occasion when Andrew partnered .1. 11. Taylor in a competition in AVest Lancashire. KirIcaldy had fared badly, and was out of tho running, but ".1.1f." was wcil in the running for tho prize. At one point Taylor, who did not know the course well, was undecided whether to risk playing over a distant bunker or whether to play short for safety. JCir- ,, ' V , Sl }l' ["y'or's dilemma, and, although his ball was lying in front of ia.vjor s, ho shouted out, "Wait a minute ; and talking a club, plaved the shot, and so gavo l'aylor a hl.nt as to IvL if -7"*' ycy .sporting action, e\cn were not quite "according to • rerha P s l,1 « finest example of KirKatdj s prowess as a'match plavor occurred in 180,1. In that year .1. 11. Tayor, who was open champion, challenged ho world or .£SO a sidy for two roumls at St. Andrews. Kirkaldy accepted tho challenge and won by one hole. I-nMv^L l -™ is older than KirRr ' 'fiy m K. bc ™ x>™ at Ix.it I, in \n )l, ti, "^f 1 ' 0 h "* bco " sctl,cf! -No th Beiwick for many years, he is a <1 übmaker' and not the .plavins professional to the club. Like his opponent, Snyors has never won the open championship, but ho finished sccoml in 1858 ?<!" il-n'r- 'il'n 16 , follo, y ill S .vcar. Savers • Jke Jvirl\rt)dy, too, in another ro«nect plavor ' 111 RrCat ability a matcll 'J'lie two have been matched together before having met over North Berwick and St. Andrews for .£IOO. The first half wicl n'ml <1 ,V!IS plajrK ! Nt North I3er " wick, and Sayers gained a lead of C holes. Ac St. Andrews, however, lie rein the d n v rr f b ? Wfft.ta-Bnd this w-<is in the day of the old gutlie' -Kfrkaldv did a round of 77, and at (he end of till 1 In thn r i,y f SS ' e , ac ' I ,vllß rrducetl to I'll im, f !' al r l ; 0 " 11 J the niatch stood ?n!, l i i W i!' sto S°- ai "l Sabers, comthn i vw y, fc «t form, won on he last green by 2 holes. He did the last five holes in 20 strokes. Both men have frequently represented Scotland in the international matches with England, and played together in the foursomes. Here they were invincible fo? some time until ,n 11)10 Robson and' Upnonf succeeded in defeating t], e „, „nd spoiling the record. The chagrin of the two famous Scots was, 1 am told, almost tragic in its intensity. So agitated did they become towards the end of the match that when Sayers gave his partner t "fl o ?, th , e -. e ! IRC of a hunker goin" Ltn K - ,rkaldy not oni >- miwSa the ball but, haying an awkward stance, bunker a ° 10 b °"° m of th ° Sayers is particularly proud of the fact that he made n complete set of clubs for he late King Edward, and also gave lessons m golf to Queen Alexandra, tho King, and Princess Victoria at Windsor Ho also instructed Lord Kitchener in 'tho game, and made his clubs for him. Perhaps, however, his most proficient pupil is his nephew. Jack AVhito, tho profe=sional at Sunningdale, who won the Open Championship in 1901. Sayers persuaded AVhito when ho was qnito young to quit tho farm on which he was working and to go out to him to learn golf. Savors and Kirkaldy present a curious contrast on the teeinj? ground. Savers small, neat, and dapper, ICirkaldv standing nearly Bft. high and weighing close on lfist... dour, huge, and shaggv-looking in his comfortable, loosely-fitting rough tweed coat. Both men are full of quick and humorous sayings, but whereas ( Sayers accompanies his remarks with a twinkling glance of the eye, Andrew's face is set and dour, as though he were totally unaware of the fact that he had uttered anything whimsical. Both men dearly love to get in a sly dig al one another, and each lias a wholesome respeel for the olher's prowess, holli on , the course and in tho battle of wits. i