Once again America takes possession of the British Open Championship Cup. We tender our heartiest congratulations to the winner, Gene Sarazen. To say that he deserved to win is only to put it mildly. From the very first round he looked a winner, and each succeeding round showed that he was the finest player in the field. Record after record Sarazen smashed, and his winning aggregate of 283 constitutes a new record total for the championship. This surpasses Mr. Bobby Jones's previous record total of 285, established in 1927 at St. Andrews, by two strokes. It means that this sturdy little Italian-born golfer accomplished the seventy-two holes in an average of five under fours over the longest championship course in this country. Prince's measures just under 7.000 yards. Admittedly, the weather was simply ideal throughout the week for low scoring, and the course was in perfect condition, nevertheless, Sarazen's achievement was truly remarkable.

Sarazen is no stranger to these shores. He has been over several times in the past. In 1928 he finished second, two strokes behind Walter Hagen, and last year at Carnoustie equal third. And now he has won the title, which he coveted most of any in the world, and his triumph is complete. We have long since been of the opinion that Sarazen is a player of the highest order and that he possesses a determination second to none. Last Week confirmed our views. After two steady qualifying rounds, Sarazen jumped into the lead and never once did he look like losing it. Even during his last round, when he learned that Arthur Havers, with a record-breaking third round of 68, was close on his heels he did not wilt, but grimly carried on fighting. One or two strokes slipped away; he played one or two slack strokes otherwise he would not have been human but he did not lose control of himself. What we admire most of all in Sarazen is the way he takes the rough with the smooth. As he walked off the sixteenth green in the third round, after he had missed a short putt. he turned to us and, smiling, said, "That makes up for the ones I have holed." That is the way Sarazen views the game, and it is the only way if the player is to win We shudder to think what some British golfers would have done-or said-in similar circumstances.

This season commenced so favourably, the form of our leading professional golfers gave such promise that we, in common with most of the other critics of the game, saw signs of a British victory and an end to the American monopoly. But it was not to be. However, our players did not disgrace themselves. They put up a very fine showing indeed. Arthur Havers's third round was a wonderful performance. Some spectators expected him to return a 70 in tlie afternoon and so to tie. That was asking too much: it was practically a physical impossibility to do such a score, knowing that it had to be done.

One after another of the British "hopes" faded away in the third round. That round is the scene of more disasters than the other three put together. We do not propose to excuse the British players, that would be futile. but we do feel-and we said this last year that professional golfers in this country have not the opportunities that Americans possess. With the standard of play getting better and better each year, it is becoming increasingly important for professional players to specialise in playing and playing only.

During the week we saw several British players not "playing with their heads." in contrast to Sarazen's methods. Sarazen, when he got in trouble, always recovered well. When he missed the green with his second shots he invariably got down in two more, whereas we saw British players taking three. Again, a dropped stroke did not affect his play; he forgot it and went on obtaining his par figures. But the home players have still to overcome their old tendency of dropping several strokes after dropping one.

We have this consolation. In spite of two Americans occupying the first two places, fourteen players, born and bred in Britain, returned aggregates of under 300, one being an amateur, Mr. W. L. Hope, whose game we have sn often praised. Not so long ago scores like these would have proved good enough to win. A word of sympathy must be given to Macdonald Smith, Once again he had one bad round-not so very bad at that. but just enough to cost him the title. He says he is not downhearted and will try again. That is the right spirit, and the spirit we hope British golfers will adopt.