The ep14 Bobby Jones-The Incomparable Youth

This is Jimmy Powers ready to bring you another story from the Tumalt and the Shouting. There, this is Jimmy Powers transcribed with another chapter from the Grantland Rice story, the Tumalt and the Shouting. Today, Granny takes us back to Atlanta, Georgia, where Granny watched a 13-year-old youngster swing a golf stick.

It also began an association that was to endure right up to Granny's farewell in July 1954. So, with a warm salute to the every young spirit of Granny Rice, I take up the narrative in first person.

One lovely spring day in 1915, I stood with Alex Smith and Long Jim Barnes, both golf champions, watching a 13-year-old kid playing a machey shot to the green. The youngster hit a good crisp shot to within ten yards of the cup.

Immediately he threw his club and discussed. Barnes's eyes opened. Who is that boy? He asked. His name is Jones. Bob Jones, I replied. I've known him since he was a three-year-old. He's the son of a good friend of mine, Bob Jones Sr., a fine lawyer here in Atlanta.

I played baseball against him while he was at Mercer University and I was at Vanderbilt. It's a shame, Alex said, but he'll never make a golfer, too much temper. Why that was a fine shot for anybody.

I disagree, said Barnes. This kid will be one of the world's greatest in a few more years. Look at him, broad-shouldered with big, strong hands. I've got to agree with you, Jim," I said. At 13 he's already playing low in the 70s.

He isn't satisfied with just a good shot. He wants it to be perfect, stone dead. He has a great ambition to play every shot in the bag right. But you're correct about that temper, Alex, and that one fault could prove his biggest hazard.