23 JUNE 1923, Page 9

The old country has every reason to be satisfied with

its golfing prowess this year, for in the Open Champion- ship A. G. Havers, the young Englishman, defeated W. Hagen, the holder, by one stroke, the winner's score being 73, 73,73 and 76—a wonderful record of steadiness. The success of Havers demonstrates the advantage of starting golf early. The new champion was, so to say, born with a club in his hand, and at the age of four his swing was beautifully rhythmic, as recorded by a photo- graph at the time ! An invader who gave- a wonderful account of himself was Macdonald Smith, the Carnoustie- born professional from San Francisco. In the interests of English-speaking friendship it was unfortunate that the " autocrats of St. Andrews "—as they have been termed— barred the punched clubs on the eve of the contest. Both Hagen and Sarazen are said to have felt keenly on this subject, and it is to be hoped that in future, when the St. Andrews Committee has ukases to promulgate, it will make its views known well in advance of the Champion- ship.