1900 I made a long tour in America,
and won the American Championship. Concerning these events I desire to
write at some length in a later chapter. The greatest success which I
have ever achieved in face of difficulties was when I again became Open
Champion at Prestwick in 1903. For some time beforehand I had been
feeling exceedingly unwell, and, as it appeared shortly afterwards,
there was serious trouble brewing. During the play for the Championship
I was not at all myself, and while I was making the last round I was
repeatedly so faint that I thought it would be impossible for me to
finish. However, when I holed my last putt I knew that I had won. My
brother Tom was runner-up, six strokes behind, and, glad as I was of the
distinction of having equalled the record of the two Morrises in having
won the Championship four times, I could have wished, and did wish, that
Tom had been the victor. In all the circumstances I was very much
surprised that I did so well. The last day's work was an enormous
strain, yet on the following day I played in a tournament at Irvine, won
the first prize, and broke the record of the course. It is wonderful
what golf can be played when one's mind is given to the task, whatever
the adverse factors in the case may be.

However, these are the events of recent golfing history, and I have no
desire to inflict upon my readers a narrative of any more of them. As
nearly as I can reckon, I have up to date won the first prize in
forty-eight first-class tournaments, and by being four times British
Open Champion and once American have still that record to my credit. And
I hope to play many of my best games in the future, for it takes longer
to kill the golf in a man than it does to breed it.

CHAPTER III

THE WAY TO GOLF

The mistakes of the beginner--Too eager to play a round--Despair
that follows--A settling down to mediocrity--All men may excel--The
sorrows of a foozler--My advice--Three months' practice to begin
with--The makings of a player--Good golf is best--How Mr. Balfour
learned the game--A wise example--Go to the professional--The
importance of beginning well--Practise with each club
separately--Driver, brassy, cleek, iron, mashie, and putter--Into
the hole at last--Master of a bag of clubs--The first match--How
long drives are made--Why few good players are coming on--Golf is
learned too casually.

There are different ways of l