Armour v. Cooper

At the Oakmont Country Club, in a suburb of Pittsburgh, 24-year-old Harry Cooper of British birth and Los Angeles residence had been around the links four times last week in a total of 301 strokes, causing a number of people to go home thinking that they had seen the new U. S. open golf champion. Gene Sarazen had put away his clubs, with a 302. "Wild Bill" Mehlhorn of the mighty wrists had gone wild after a few under-par holes. Walter C. Hagen finished with an ignoble round of 81. Robert Tyre Jones, amateur, 1926 open champion (TIME, July 19), had been consistent but not brilliant. Harrison ("Jimmie") Johnston, the amateur who worried the professionals for half the battle, went to seed after an eagle 3 and a sparrow 9.

It was true that Tommy Armour was still within striking distance of Cooper's 301, but his putting was becoming pathetic and his nerves had been jarred by a spectator's motion picture camera. However, Armour reached the tee of the last (457-yard) hole to find that he needed a birdie 3 to tie Cooper. Wood smote rubber--and Armour's ball traveled 275 yards down the middle of the fairway. Iron smote rubber--and Armour's ball made a 180-yard parabola to the green, 15 feet from the cup. For four minutes Armour studied his putt. Then, there was a tap, a roll and a clink. Armour had made 301. Next day, in the play-off of the tie, Armour again came from behind to complete the round in 76, while Cooper slashed for a 79. A spectator's body prevented one of Armour's mashie shots from going into some rock-ribbed tall grass. Open Champion Armour was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, 32 years ago. During the War he served in the tank corps, emerging with a partly paralyzed left arm. Distinguished in Great Britain as an amateur golfer, he did not turn professional until after coming to the U. S. in 1920. Since 1926, he has been the "pro" at the Congressional Club in Washington, D.C.