If Mr. Lassen gained a surprise victory in 1908, it was nothing as compared with Mr. Gordon Barry's win at Prestwick in 1905, as he was practically unknown away from St. Andrews. That is not to be wondered at considering that he was only twenty years of age. At his best Mr. Barry is a most formidable player, since he combines exceptional length with a very accurate short game. He obtains his length by what used to be the most remarkable follow-through. Increasing years have doubtless led to a modification of a performance which could only be accomplished by a very supple and youthful anatomy.

Mr. Guy Campbell, who is a contemporary of Mr. Barry's, nearly emulated the latter's youthful triumph, when he just succumbed in the ante-final to the eventual winner, Mr. Ball, after a match which he ought certainly never to have lost. He also learnt most of his golf at St. Andrews, and has been conspicuously successful there. A fine driver, with a well-controlled style, he also has a great number of shots in his repertory - so many, in fact, that he sometimes appears to find considerable difficulty in deciding which he will play.

E. A. LASSEN.

ABE MITCHELL.

[To face p. 254.

Few players have given a better account of themselves in the amateur championship than Mr. C. E. Dick. Year after year saw him reach the last eight quite as a matter of course, and he reached the semifinal at Sandwich in 1908. His driving is apt to be a trifle uncertain at times, a tendency to hook being evident, but there are few prettier or more effective iron players - a marked characteristic of all Hoylake golfers.

When. Mr. W. J. Travis came over from America and carried off the amateur championship at Sandwich, he was distinctly lucky in finding that course in a state very nearly resembling an inland links, since it naturally suited a player who had learnt and played most of his golf over courses of this description. Still, such a good player would very likely have adapted himself to other conditions, and there can be no two opinions about his putting, which was marvellous.

America sent us another very fine player in 1911, Mr. Evans to wit. A long driver, and a very finished iron player, he has only to master a tendency to miss short putts to attain the highest honours. In addition to his brilliant play, he displayed a true sporting spirit, and made many friends during his short visit to this country. As he is only twenty years of age, he should have a brilliant future before him.

Mr. Abe Mitchell aroused great interest at Hoylake in 1910, and sealed his reputation at Westward Ho ! two years later, playing Mr. John Ball to the thirty-eighth hole in the final - the furthest to which it has ever run. One of many brothers, who are all good players, he learnt his golf at Ashdown Forest, where, I believe, the Cantelupe Club is practically composed of the Mitchell family. He stands well up to the ball, and hits it a terrific distance with an unusually high trajectory. His iron play is a trifle crude at present, but he putts well, and with more experience should become a great player. Like J. H. Taylor he can apparently afford to dispense with the orthodox follow-through. He seems to stop his hands immediately after the club meets the ball, and in this respect is the very opposite to Mr. F. Woolley. When these two players met in the championship at Hoylake, it was very interesting to compare their respective methods, which produced such similar results. Mr. Woolley has the shortest back swing of any first-class player, but makes up for its brevity by an unusually long and vigorous follow-through. His swing always reminds me of Mr. B. J. T. Bosanquet's drive at cricket. In spite of this idiosyncrasy, he drives a very long straight ball, especially against a head wind.

His chief rival in the Midlands, Mr. F. Carr, has a much more orthodox style, and created a very favourable impression at Hoylake in 1910, and at Prestwick the following year, when he defeated Mr. Gordon Simpson in the international match after losing five out of the first six holes.

Mr. Palmer, the third representative of the Midlands school of golf, is a striking example of a strong athletic man taking up golf late in life with marked success. That he is a splendid match player he clearly demonstrated at St. Andrews in 1907, when he reached the final of the championship. He plays with a half-swing and hits the ball a very shrewd punch, but he owes most of his success to his putting, which is uniformly excellent. He has apparently a firm belief in keeping the left elbow well out, and trusting entirely to the wrists.

If successful score play demands special attributes, Mr. R. Harris must surely possess them in toto, as he not only wins a great number of competitions, but he is invariably second or third on the very rare occasions when he fails to win outright. Always a beautiful iron player, he has latterly increased the length of his driving very considerably. He stands with his feet very close together, which peculiarity he shares with another fine player, Mr. Beveridge, who appears to win competitions at Deal in spite of any penalty the committee may impose. Mr. Darwin considers that his driving is rather shorter than it used to be. There is no doubt that it is much steadier, both results being attributable to the same cause - a modification of the tremendous hook he used to play for.

Mr. H. W. de Zoete is probably the greatest exponent of the hook amongst first-class players. He stands with his feet very wide apart, the right foot drawn back, and the ball nearly opposite his left foot. He has a beautiful wide swing, the hands being exceptionally high at the top of the swing, which may account for the tremendous power of recovery, which served him so well in his memorable match with Mr. Maxwell at Muirfield in 1903. It is a great pity that he can so seldom take part in the important events.