BRITAIN V. U.S.A

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 2, 24 March 1927, Page 10

BRITAIN V. U.S.A

It is lucky that an arrangement was come to by the ruling bodies in Britain and America so that the dates of the open championship in each country did not clash. Consequently, Britain is sending a remarkably strong team of professionals to compete in the Ryder Cup. Britain won it last year with great ease, though it is doubtful whether the Americans took the game seriously, or, if they did. they muLt have been quite out of form.

The team will comprise Boomer, Compston, Duncan, Gadd, Havers, Mitchell, Ray, Robson, and C. A. Whitcombe. This is the same team that won in 192 6, except that C. A. Whitcombe replaces E. R. Whitcombe, while H. C. Jolly played last year, and only nine names are given in the cable.

The American team was very strong, but will no doubt be even better when in America. The order in England was Mitchell v. Barnes, Duncan v. Hagen, Boomer v. Armour, Compston v. Melhorn, Gadd v. Kirkwood, Ray v. Watrous, Robson v. Cyril "Walker, Havers v. McLeod, Whitcombe v. French, Jolly v. Stein. All the British won their games except Whitcombe, who halved; Mitchell by 8 up and 7, Duncan by 6 and 5, and Gadd by 8 and 7, so that it is obvious that the form of the Americans was not anything like true. In the foursomes in the afternoon, the British won all the games, Mitchell and Duncan beating Barnes and Hagen by 9 up and 8. It may be assumed that America will try and avenge their defeat. At least two strong men will be added to their team, Sarazen and Diegel. Britain will be hard put to win this year, especially under such different conditions.

The British do not seem to be able to produce their best form in America, as the Americans do in England. Anyway, Britain will be thoroughly represented in the American open. Of the lot, Aubrey Boomer would seem to have the best chance of doing well, as he was very brilliant last year, while George Gadd may be expected to be high up in the open. Everyone would like to see Mitchell, who is possibly the finest hitter of a golf ball in the world, win, and take the place to which he is entitled. It is too much to hope for, however. Ray, Duncan, and Havers each won the open championship of Britain once, while Ray has also won the national championship of America.

George von Elm, the American amateur champion, intends to be among* the entrants at Hoylake for the British amateur championship contest in May. Tom Nettleford, the Australian aamteur champion at present, also intends to enter for the event. I am not sure of Nettlefold’,s club address, whether it is Victorian or Tasmanian. If the former he is one of those who will help to destroy New Zealand’s chance of lifting the Kirk-Windeyer cup in the event of Victoria entering the competition this year. It is worthy of note that he is a left-hander, and only 21 or 22 years of age. The biggest prize money in golfing history was won by Bobby Cruickshank, an ex-Scottish professional now domiciled in America, when he won the 10,000 dollar Californian open championship, at Los Angeles, with an aggregate of 282 for four rounds. Jess Sweetser, the American winner of the British amateur championship last year, has made a slow recovery from the attack of pleurisy that nearly robbed him of the title. He is now back to work. Sweetser has stated that he considers golf skill in Britain averages higher than in the United States, notwithstanding the success of American stars in recent years! He did not consider, moreover, that Americans took the game any more seriously than Britishers. CONCERNING PARTNERS One of the most interesting problems in golf is choice of a partner on medal day. You want a cheery, friendly person of about your own handicap, who knows the rules, and who will take as muCli pleasure in bringing in the winner as in winning. Some clubs, recognising how much difference the choice ,of partners makes, arrange that partners are fixed by lot.—“ The Professor on the Golf Links.” e