AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST GOLFER

Evening Star, Issue 19799, 24 February 1928, Page 12

AUSTRALIA’S GREATEST GOLFER

IVO WHITTOH VISITS N.Z. I HIS STYLE AND ACHIEVEMENTS [Written by Donald Grant, for the ‘ Evening Star.’] Mr Ivo Whitton, Australia’s leading golfer, has just concluded a visit to New Zealand. Ho spent a couple of days in Christchurch, and I had the pleasure of playing two rounds with him. Magnificent is the only word for his golf that first morning, for he went round the Shirley course in a flawless 69. It seemed easy golf; and so it was—to Ivo Whitton. There was nothing lucky about his play. I do not recall a single long putt holed. But ho missed nothing of 9ft or under on the greens. These, by the way, drew from him the remark that he had played on no better greens since ho was in England. STYLES OF OTHER MASTERS. Harry Vardon’s style has never been surpassed for beauty of swing and smoothness of action; J. H. Taylor’s fiat style and his vigorous forearm punch make him invincible in a wind, flat style and his vigorous forearm and formidable at any time; the wide swing of MacDonald Smith, the wonderful movement of body, especially the shoulders, are features of America’s classic stylist. I see something of all these characteristics in the style of Ivo Whitton. His fine golf at Shirley was inspiring to watch. But more interesting than the results was the man, the golfer who was "achieving them. It was his method, his style that captured my interest. For years I had been familiar with the name of Ivo Whitton. It is known internationally wherever golf is played. And it is not a new experience to me to play wdth such a master of the game. So it is not novelty or inexperience that |

causes me to wax eloquent about the golfing stylo of this Australian champion. He reached Wellington at the end of January, just in time to see the Kirk-Windeyer Cup match played. He was specially interested in the match, for it was Ids own team, representing Victoria, that met the New Zealand team last June in the final for the cup at Rose Bay, Sydney. Then, when_ he came on to Christchurch, I was privileged to have the opportunity of a game with this great golfer, whose name I had Known so long. There we were, on the first tee at Shirley. T had already looked over and felt his beautiful set of clubs, all standardised, all related to each other in weight and in lie, and beautifully finished. Everything that science and workmanship could do was hero at his disposal in his implements; but far more interesting than the tools was the man. A DISCOVERY! The ball was teed up—Mr Whitton uses the peg tee—and then I awaited, not the shot, but the swing, the style. Easily and smoothly he addressed the ball, and without any loss of time. Then came what 1 was waiting for—the swing, the playing of the shot, the follow through. Was I disappointed!' On the contrary, 1 was thrilled. That one swing was sufficient to reveal to me a master golfer with a well-nigh perfect style. But it revealed more. The thrilling fact about it to mo was that I saw at once the most orthodox and most famous Scottish style at work when this Australian champion swung his driver there. My first impression was confirmed as the play proceeded, and I was able to observe many strokes of different kinds executed by Mr Whitton. I really felt as if I had made an interesting discovery and wanted to share it with others. Indeed, that is how I do feel about it. GREATEST GOLFING STYLE.

In Mr Ivo Whitton, an Australian golfer born and bred, is reproduced Scotland’s greatest golfing style—that of Carnoustie, the east coast Scottish town that has given more than 200 professional golfers to Amierca. Some of the overflow of golfing talent from that home of Scottish golf must have reached Australia while Mr Whitton was still a small boy, and provided for him what Stewart Maiden provided for Bobby Jones—a model of the truest golfing style. That, at any rate, is how I explain the phenomenon. For the emergence of a fully-developed MacDonald Smith from the native soil of Australia is a phenomenon which calls for explanation. The hue features of Mr Ivo Whitton’s style are at once apparent to the experienced observer. There is tho easy, slightly open stance; the very wide back swing close to the ground as it leaves the ball; the straight left arm; a fully-developed and quick bending in of the left leg, which means everything to balance and to the co-operation of the body’s weight in the swing—all this happens smoothly and rhythmically. Moreover, the left shoulder comes round beautifully with that back swing, which goes hardly beyond the horizontal at the top. The down swing is as smooth as the back swing, but it contains a decided punch, too, and the right shoulder comes through as easily as did the left in the up swing. It is a wonderfully adequate style for yoking all the power, weight, the balance, and the movement of the body into the execution of a shot. Three features of Mr Whitten’s stylo are outstanding: the very wide back swing, the straight left arm, the developed and quick movement inwards of the left knee. These three features are related to and necessary to each other. 1 have written with evident enthusiasm about Mr Whitten’s stylo as a golfer, and quite sincerely, too; for I feel like that about it. A golfer with a record like Mr Whiitou’s is surely a worthy subject for a golf article. Since 1920 Ivo Whitton has won the Australian amateur championship twice, and on two other occasions he has been runner-up. He shattered all traditions in 1912 and 1913 by winning tiie open championship as a youth of eighteen and again when nineteen. Again in 192 G he finished first in the Australian open with Die line aggregate of 297, at Seaton. Last year, when Rufus Stewart won with 297, Whitton, who was really just recovering from influenza, was only six strokes behind, at 303. The Victorian amateur championship is about ns hard to win as the national title. Five times since the war has Mr Whitton captured it; he has held also tho Queensland championship. He holds tho record of Kingsdown Heath, 72; of Commonwealth, 72; and of Banvon Heads, 07. Consider new his goll during the past fortnight in New Zealand. At Miramar during the first week of February he played about a dozen rounds. Of tiieso the lowest was a 68, two below par, and all the others, save one, were between 71 and 75. One day ho played there twenty-seven consecutive holes without registering a single 5. On the Shirley course, Christchurch, his first round was a 69, one below par; and there was not a single piece of luck in that immaculate score. Two other rounds at Shirley wore 71 and 72. He visits Dunedin and encounters the redoubtable Dr Ross, an old friend, on Balmacewen, providing the doctor with the unusual experience of being 1 down at tho eighteenth, although he did a 72. Whitton’s round was 71. MAY VISIT BRITAIN.

These figures speak for themselves. They represent first-calss golf anywhere. And Mr Wliitton seems to achieve them easily, thanks to his wonderful style of play. The editor of a British golf monthly, judging by tho play of Leu Ncttlefold alone, wrote to me a lew months ago that ho thought the standard of play in Australia and New Zealand was a stroke or two below that of tho best in England and Scotland. We shall see. For there is a elm nee that Ivo Whitton may soon visit Britain and may play in tho championships at Home. That visit will have more than ordinary interest for golfers and golf readers in Australia and New Zealand. Personally I am of the opinion that Jvo Whitton to-day is as fine a golfer as Roger Wethered at his best, and I know Wethered’s play.