British Golf

The British amateur golf championship at Hoylake last week was not provocative of hullabaloo, hysteria or any other characteristic of over-heated sport. It was an almost pastoral scene of "grand old men," canny young Scots, a few U. S. lads, distinguished British physicians, golf theorists, golf champions enjoying an ancient game.

There was Harold Horsfall Hilton, 58, editor of Golf Illustrated, four-time amateur champion, twice open champion, who was out to win his 100th match in title play. He still had his oldtime precision, but his drives had lost their ginger. He was eliminated in the first round.

Also seeking his 100th victory was John Ball, 66, eight-time amateur champion, the first amateur to win the British open title (1890). A large gallery followed spare Golfer Ball and his grizzled, wrinkled caddy. They saw him run chip-shots to within a club's length of the cup, five times on the first seven holes, only to miss easy putts. He was eliminated in the first round.

The first upset of the tournament came when 23-year-old Edwin H. Haley of Manhattan defeated the hard-driving favorite, Cyril Tolley, one up. But Haley's fame was shortlived, for up popped Dr. Harold D. Gillies, a physician for the King of England, a famed golf theorist who tees his ball almost a foot high, who uses a monster-headed driver, who has studied the function of every muscle, nerve and blood vessel necessary for club-swinging. Dr. Gillies' favorite stunt is driving balls neatly off perpendicular beer bottles.

Next day, Dr. Gillies' theories were put to rout by the brilliant and erratic Roger Wethered.

The medical profession, however, was vindicated when methodical, deliberate Dr. William Tweddell of Stourbridge eliminated Roger Wethered and won the finals from D. E. Landale.

Champion Tweddell is a golfer who has the patience to spend two minutes over a two-foot putt.