Putting News

Updated Monday, July 4, 2005 8:02 AM

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2005 2nd Quarter - April thru June

Mayo Clinic's Charles Adler: The yips in putting are a neurological problem, not a psychological problem -- Arizona Republic, AZ, 30 Jun 2005
True Stroke Putter may prove to be a stroke of genius for commercvial painter and inventor Larry Davis -- has center of gravity centered in putter head directly below hosel to keep the swing on the pendulum line, IdahoStatesman.com, ID, 30 Jun 2005
Smurfit European Open at the K Club: Retief Goosen Rediscovers Golden Touch -- The South African birdied three of his first four holes and then rolled in a 35-foot eagle putt at the 537-yard 18th – his ninth – to be five under par and two clear., Scotsman, UK, 30 Jun 2005

Death of orchestra veteran and lawyer Reg Cope at 90 -- a Bromley solicitor since qualifying in 1938, Cope also became an enthusiastic putter and joined both the Knole Park and Limpsfield golf clubs where he played regularly well into his early 80s, Bromley Times, UK, 30 Jun 2005

Western Open: Stephen Ames thrilled to be back -- key to last year's win was play on greens -- 3rd in birdies per round (4.5) and 7th in putts per round (27.5), Gary Post Tribune, IN, 30 Jun 2005

Greater Sarasota Junior Golf Association: Mom's advice "Don't leave it short, don't leave it short" pays off with course-record 63 for Genn Mendez -- sets women's course record, GSJGA record with 10 birdies -- recent practice hitting to tee placed behind the hole -- could have been a 59 -- hurried on last hole to avoid lightening and 3-putted for bogey, missed a few makeable birdie putts and birdied only 1 of the par 5s -- recent North Point grad says: "It was crazy. I was in some kind of zone.", Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL, 30 Jun 2005

West Virginia Open: Long-hitting Drew Whitten fires 69 with only 26 putts for share of lead, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, WV, 30 Jun 2005

Washington State GA Women's Am title to Renee Skidmore -- University of Idaho golfer from Everett defeats University of Washington's Sung Ea Lee -- "The momentum just kept building for me," Skidmore said. "My putter was definitely on. I felt like I could make every single putt I looked at on the front nine.", Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA, 30 Jun 2005

Synthetic golf greens the way to go, Cape Business News, South Africa, 30 Jun 2005

Conservative Texas Governor Rick Perry's off-camera remark to reporter "Adios, Mofo" spurs T-shirt sales -- Dallas golf putter designer Travis Fussell cashing in on gaff, Bloomberg, 30 Jun 2005

Never Compromise Speed Control Gray 2 Putter, Golf Gear Review, 30 Jun 2005

World Golf Village Putting Championship July 9-24, The Wire, 29 Jun 2005

Nickent pipe putter, AZ Central.com, AZ, 30 Jun 2005

Conservative play, putting cost Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam in slam bids, San Jose Mercury News, CA, 29 jun 2005

Justin Leonard/Deloitte Junior Team Championship at the par-71 Northwood Club -- 14-year-olds Cody Gribble and Patrick Reed set record with team 62 -- When Cody Gribble learned to walk, he also learned the game of golf. Since he was 2, Gribble has been walking the greens and putting the ball -- Gribble sank a 45-foot putt on 17th in setting tournament record, Dallas Morning News, TX, 29 Jun 2005

Michigan Open at Grand Traverse Resort: Michael Harris takes six-stroke lead into final round -- fires 7-under 65 -- "Some days you hit it great and you don't putt that well, some days you putt it well and you hit it left and right. I've hit it well and I'm putting well," Harris said., MLive.com, MI, 29 Jun 2005

SAM Puttlab partners Padraig Harrington and Jean-Francois Remesy enjoy same-week wins -- Barclays Classic and French Open, Science and Motion, Germany, 27 Jun 2005
Padraig Harrington rallies to win Barclays Classic over Jim Furyk by a stroke -- Furyk misses a 4-footer on 17th to fall into a tie, then Harrington curls in big-breaking a 65-foot eagle putt on final hole for the win -- "To hole a putt like that on the final hole is very special. Very special," Harrington said. "I hit that putt pure. I was just trying to two-putt. Trying to get it down there close. If you'd offered me 3-4 feet, I probably would have taken it.", Kansas.com, KS, 27 Jun 2005

US Women's Open: The breakthrough of Michelle Wie didn't happen. It didn't come close to happening. Her putter had all the finesse of a hammer Sunday, dropping the 15- year-old from the co-leader's spot and into a pool of 23rd-place finishers., San Francisco Chronicle, CA, 27 Jun 2005

Padraig Harrington's 65-foot eagle putt on the final hole to win the Westchester Classic by a stroke -- one for the ages, The Journal News.com, NY, 27 un 2005

Michelob Ultra 2-Man Scramble: Long/Walker tame greens with record win -- Rob Long and Jeff Walker kept their drives in the short grass, and knocked down nearly every putt they stood over, shooting a final-round 13-under par en route to tying the Michelob Ultra 2-Man scramble record with a 25-under, 59-58Ñ117. -- Long and Walker had their sites on the bottom of the cup with a relentless barrage of birdie putts, and a 25-foot eagle putt early in the day on No. 5. "That's what these things (scrambles) are all about, and of course when you got Rob Long reading the putts for you, all you've got to do is listen and they go in," Walker said., Clarksville Leaf Chronicle, TN, 27 Jun 2005

Sergio Garcia up to old tricks at Westchester -- defending champ putts terribly -- "This week was a tough week the way the course was playing," Garcia said. "I felt like I played great. I putted so badly. It's a shame. I would have loved to do better here.", The Journal News.com, NY, 27 Jun 2005

Michelle Wie fails to wow anyone on this day -- at 4-over after four holes (the score that eventually won), Wie misses consecutive 3-footers and then drops off the radar scope to finish with an 82, Cincinnati.com, OH, 27 Jun 2005

Mark McNulty learned to play golf in Zimbabwe, where the greens were made from sand mixed with engine oil and they needed to be raked of footprints. That helped the reigning Champions Tour rookie of the year develop one of the best putting touches on the 50-and-over circuit. -- So when McNulty lined up a 14-foot birdie putt yesterday on the second playoff hole of the Bank of America Championship, he was confident. -- "When you smell something, when a great player smells something, when Tiger or Phil smells a win ... you want to make the putt so much that you're going to make it," McNulty said after earning $240,000 for his first victory of the year. "I never thought about missing it." McNulty made his putt and Tom Purtzer missed from a little bit closer to lose., Newsday, NY, 27 Jun 2005

Putter fails Tom Purtzer -- Misses 8-footer for the win on first hole of playoff -- loses on second playoff hole when Mark McNulty sinks a 20-footer and Purtzer misses from 15 feet -- Earlier putts missed: He 3-putted No. 10, missed a 4-footer for birdie on 11 and another 4-footer for birdie on 16 that would have put him on easy street. -- "Every week, I don't make the putts when I need to. They're not hard putts. (They're) short putts. I guess I'm getting old.", Boston Herald, MA, 27 Jun 2005

Nationwide Tour: Greg Kraft easily wins by two, but Joe Daley got it going with second 5-under to tie for fourth -- "It was fun to get it going," Daley said. "I read a lot of putts properly today. I had the speed down better.", Scranton Times, PA, 27 Jun 2005

Lorie Kane has best final round at 2-under 69 -- 40-foot putt for par on No. 9 kept her going, Rocky Mountain News, CO, 27 Jun 2005

Putt-putt golf lifts spirits of sick kids, Orlando Sentinel, FL, 27 Jun 2005

Hooters Tour: Nick Flanagan tries for wire-to-wire win but falters at final flag -- three-putts final hole to lose by one, Greenville Daily Reflector, NC, 27 Jun 2005

Annika Sorenstam's bid for Grand Slam falters in third major with 23rd place finish -- 30.5 putts per round average not good enough -- also has bad driving and iron-play week, Houston Chronicle, TX, 27 Jun 2005

Futures Tour: Christina Baena holds off teenager for Futures title -- Baena, sister of LPGA Tour player Marisa Baena, rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at the last hole of regulation to hold off Julieta Granada and win by a single stroke. "That putt was huge," said Baena. -- Granada turned pro this week, Fall River Herald News, MA, 27 Jun 2005

Australasian Tour Mizuno Open: Aussie Chris Campbell has booked his spot in next month's British Open after defeating New Zealander David Smail and local Tadahiro Takayama in a playoff in the Mizuno Open in Okayama, Japan. -- Smail and Takayama both three-putt to lose playoff to Campbell's par, sportal.com.au, Australia, 27 Jun 2005

Asian Tour Brunei Open: Terry Pilkadaris romps to five-stroke victory -- earns the honeymoon money -- horshoe lipout spurs him to birfie binge -- Jarrod lyle finishes strong with 15-footer for birdie on last hole for second place -- Malaysia's Danny Chia makes a run and cans a 25-footer on final hole to take fifth, Bangkok Post, Thailand, 27 Jun 2005

Brad Faxon expedites his comeback -- having a terrible year but in the hunt at Westchester -- More than a year ago, Faxon suffered a freak injury to his knee while working out with an exercise ball. Having foregone surgery, he was slow to recover. Then there were swing changes, along with a revolving door of teachers. Not far behind, there was a crisis in confidence. "It's probably a long story," Faxon said. "But I've messed around a little bit too much with my swing." -- "I've played pretty good golf over the years by being a great chipper and putter. For some reason, I think that I can change that and become a great ball-striker and a great chipper and putter, and I've gotten worse in all three departments.", The Journal News.com, NY, 26 Jun 2005

Padraig Harrington ties Jim Furyk at the top at Barclays -- Furyk: "The greens definitely firmed up, got baked out. They were almost turning white at the end. Everywhere you stepped you could kind of see your footmarks, not because they were soft but because they were stressed out pretty well.", St. Petersburg Times, FL, 26 Jun 2005

Nationwide Tour Northeast Pennsylvania Classic: Greg Kraft cruising to NE Pennsylvania Classic title -- 3-under 68 gives him 7 stroke lead after three rounds -- missed four birdie putts inside 12 feet on back nine, Fall River Herald News, MA, 25 Jun 2005

Champions Tour: Weak putts counter Andy Bean long game -- Bean, who is ranked 54th on the Champions Tour in putting, and 68th in putts per round, would love to have his blade heat up for today's final round. -- "I really didn't putt that well until the last four or five holes. Then I made two putts. Tom (Purtzer) almost fell over when I made one over about 8 feet,'' Bean said with a laugh. ``It's tough watching guys make putts, when you're knocking it in there 6 and 8 feet, and I'm lipping them out. But I'd like it in the same place (for the final round), because I can shoot 60 if I do that.'', Boston Herald, MA, 26 Jun 2005

Asian Tour Brunei Open: Terry Pilkadaris romps to five-stroke victory -- earns the honeymoon money -- horseshoe lipout spurs him to birdie binge -- Jarrod Lyle finishes strong with 15-footer for birdie on last hole for second place -- Malaysia's Danny Chia makes a run and cans a 25-footer on final hole to take fifth, Bangkok Post, Thailand, 27 Jun 2005

French Open: Argentina's Eduardo Romero (at age 50) captures lead with flawless course-record 9-under 62 -- misses 61 in Friday's round when a 40-foot putt lipped out on the final hole to deny him a European career-best -- Complete change in fortunes for the Argentine veteran who had missed five cuts in six starts this year. -- Romero put the reason for such a dramatic change down to yoga and his ability to cope with high humidity in Versailles after losing six kilos in weight. "I didn't do yoga for three or four months but I came back to it three weeks ago and it has made a big difference mentally," he said., Malaysia Star, Malaysia, 26 Jun 2005

Michael Campbell: Yo-yo man apt name for Cambo -- not too fond of practicing, Maori culture thought to underlie inconsistency -- feel player who sometimes gets lazy and forgets to pay attention -- "What that part of my character has given me is flair for golf. I have good intuition, I think. I go on instinct when I read a putt. My first look, my gut feeling, is always the one I go with. I know where to aim even when I am marking the ball. You can't learn that. The Spaniards are like that, too.", Scotsman, UK, 26 Jun 2005

Annika Sorenstam suffers 3-putt and 4-putt before recovering to 73 -- 5 strokes back headed into final round, AZ Central.com, AZ, 25 Jun 2005

Eagle earns Jim Furyk Barclays Classic lead -- Sergio Garcia putting poorly again -- "I just couldn't make any putts," Garcia said. "It's just a matter of rolling a couple of putts in and getting some confidence." -- Corey Pavin on Thursday 4-putts no. 10 from 4 feet but birdies from 3 1/2 feet Friday en route to field-lowest round of 64, KFMB, CA, 25 Jun 2005

Chuck Jabaley came within three inches of breaking the course record at the Cleveland Golf and Country Club on Saturday. -- Jabaley missed a three-inch birdie putt on No. 18, but still tied the course record with a 9-under 63 and took the first-round lead in the Cleveland Invitational. -- leads by 6 in 2-round event, The Chattanoogan, TN, 25 Jun 2005

Open shut tight for Kanata's Ashley Bickerton -- just misses qualifier for Canadian Women's Open next month in Halifax but gunning for LPGA while at University of Washington -- working with Joe Thiel -- "I'm getting a new putter, something more suitable," said Bickerton. "I didn't make anything. I've been using a centre-shafted putter for a few years and it's been good to me, but it's time for a change.", SLAM! Sports, Canada, 25 Jun 2005

Chile's Nicole Perrot takes the lead as Sorenstam stumbles -- Sorenstam took 35 putts on greens that got more bumpy as the round wore on, but the most stunning part of her round - not to mention her run through the majors - came on the par 5s. The longest and straighter driver on the LPGA Tour, she has yet to make birdie on the par 5s at Cherry Hills. Worse yet, she now has gone 21 consecutive par 5s without a birdie, dating to the first one she played two weeks ago in the LPGA Championship, which she won by three shots., SunHerald.com, MS, 25 Jun 2005

Mini-golfers putt to benefit SPCA, Portsmouth Herald News, NH, 25 Jun 2005

Sorenstam took 35 putts on greens that got more bumpy as the round wore on, but the most stunning part of her round -- not to mention her run through the majors -- came on the par 5s. The LPGA Tour's longest and straightest driver, she has yet to make birdie on the par 5s at Cherry Hills, Chicago Sun-Times, IL, 25 Jun 2005

Leonard Thompson fires 66 for lead -- Thompson sank a 35-foot putt on the ninth hole to improve to 2-under, but he three-putted on the par-5 10th hole for a bogey that dropped him to minus 1. He got the stroke back with a three-footer on No. 11, then sank four putts of around 20 feet to birdie Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 18 for his low round of the year., Amarillo.com, TX, 25 Jun 2005

After only one day of the Bank of Ann Arbor Futures Classic, Kim Moore has a long way to climb -- born without a right foot, Moore has a prosthetic and is two-time National Amputee Golfer champ -- Moore wasn't supposed to have a chance at golf. Instead, she found temporary relief from the heat in the Lake Forest clubhouse, then lamented three-putting on five holes. "I'll putt better (today),'' she said. "I guarantee that.'', Ann Arbor News, MI, 25 Jun 2005

Len Mattiace appears to be regaining game after skiing injury to both knees at Vail in December 2003 -- missed 12 cuts in 17 tries so far this year -- shot 65 to tie for third and make cut at Westchester -- "I hit it better than I have, and I putted really well. I made the putts to make the birdies." -- But Mattiace's game atrophied after the skiing accident. He made just 12 of 25 cuts in 2004, and his scoring average of 72.03 ranked 173rd. His greens-in-regulation percentage of 59.1 placed him 192nd. -- "I lost a lot of speed and strength," Mattiace said. "I didn't do anything for four months. I couldn't, as far as golf, so I lost a lot. I think if you just look at it stat-wise, my short game has been as good as anybody's the last five to seven years," said Mattiace, whose putting average of 1.792 was 137th on the tour last year. "But ball-striking Ñ and it's unfortunate to say that Ñ that's what's kept me from being more consistent. More fairways, more greens. It's kind of as simple as that.", The Journal News.com, NY, 25 Jun 2005

Jim Furyk survives poor putts, throat clearing spectator -- After blowing easy birdie putts on Nos. 5 and 6, Furyk was scuffling on the par-4 seventh, where, on each of his swings, an anonymous spectator kept "clearing his throat."As I marked my ball, I heard again the same cough, real loud," Furyk explained. "I don't know who it was ... I asked (out loud) if they were done clearing their throat. If it was intentional, I wanted them to stop, and if it wasn't intentional, I wanted them to stop. I didn't care either way, just give me a little bit of peace and quiet." He got it long enough to roll in a 10-foot putt with a three-foot break. Furyk called it the key putt of the day. In golf terms, it was a good bogey. -- eagles next hole from fairway from 153 yards, New York Daily News, NY, 25 Jun 2005

Coral Springs' Nicole Hage left Cherry Hills shaking her head, unable to find the brakes on the lightning-fast greens. ''It's speed,'' she said after a second consecutive 79. ``I just could not get the speed out there. I've been out here practicing since Saturday, but those [practice] greens are a lot slower than the ones on the course.'' Hage needed 36 putts to complete her round Friday, dragged down by a quartet of three-putts. That offset a decent ball-striking round in which she hit 10 of 14 fairways and 11 greens in regulation. ''Even in college golf you don't see greens this speed, even at nationals,'' she said. Hage, an Auburn sophomore, was fifth at last month's NCAAs. Next time, she said, she's going to see if she can find a practice site with hard greens -- not easy in South Florida's rainy season., Miami Herald, FL, 25 Jun 2005

Doug Barron snapped his Titleist Scotty Cameron putter over his knee after four-putting the eighth hole yesterday. -- That was good news for Tom Fitzgerald. Barron handed the head half of the club to the 10-year-old from Cranford, N.J. "He told me to regrip it," Fitzgerald said. -- Barron, who started on the back nine, birdied his final hole, putting with a wedge., Times Herald-Record, NY, 25 Jun 2005

Wunderkind Paula Creamer queasy on wild day: Gulped down some Gatorade and got sick, but luckily no putts outside 10 feet -- fires 2-under 69 and sits 3 back, South Florida Sun, FL, 25 Jun 2005

Chasing third major: Annika Sorenstam starts slowly -- misses 4 short putts over front nine, but steadies and ends first round within two of lead, Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA, 24 Jun 2005

Chasing third major: Annika Sorenstam sinks a string of important putts coming home to salvage first-round par 2 shots back, Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV, 24 Jun 2005

Barclays Classic: Peter Jacobsen 4-putts en route to 76, New Albany Tribune, IN, 24 Jun 2005

French Open: Jean Van de Velde keeps lead as first round is completed -- Briton Raymond Russell misses 2-footer on final hole for tie, Reuters.uk, UK, 24 Jun 2005

Putter calms Annika Sorenstam's jitters, Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, 24 Jun 2005

Champions Iron Man Dana Quigley striking while he's hot -- Quigley credited his improved play to a new, custom-made Adams driver and a new putter from Guerin Rife identical to the one used by Jim Thorpe. Quigley said he admired Thorpe's putter after watching him make birdie after birdie during a match in April. Thorpe offered to have one made for Quigley and delivered it in time for the next Tour event, the FedEx Kinko's Classic in Austin, Texas, where Quigley finished runner-up to Thorpe. ''I've been driving the ball and the last six weeks I've moved up the driving charts, not only in accuracy but also distance, so the driver's been good," he said. ''But, as you know, you have to drive it and you have to putt it, and those are the two new clubs that I have in my bag and they've been just phenomenal." -- "When you're putting well and you're playing well, you get very confident.", Boston Globe, MA, 24 Jun 2005

Dana Quigley on the money -- new Guerin Rife two-bar putter helps him lead Champions Tour putting at 1.73 putts per GIR -- "I made a couple of equipment changes that I had direct positive results from,'' Quigley said. ``Jim Thorpe had a putter made for me in Orlando the week before the first of the six weeks. Jim Barfield made this putter called the Two-Bar. I've used that the last six weeks and that's probably as much the reason for my success as anything else.", Boston Herald, MA, 24 Jun 2005

Lynrock Memorial features return of top putter in all of college golf -- Trey Deal led all collegians in putts per GIR (1.683) and in total putts (26.42) -- 2-man team of Deal and Dustin Hussey to defend title, Eden Daily News, NC, 24 Jun 2005

Nervous three-putt on final hole cost Young-A Yang lead in Open -- UT grad doubles 18th hole but still ties for 2nd in first-round play, Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, 24 Jun 2005

Wheels come off on back nine for Karrie Webb -- three-putts on 10th and 13th holes and six dropped shots, Seven.com.au, Australia, 24 Jun 2005

Dana Quigley credits putter from friend Jim Thorpe with his rise to top of Champions Tour money list -- Quigley won the season-opening MasterCard Championship in January and finished second the next week at Turtle Bay. But things really picked up at the end of April, when his friend Jim Thorpe gave him a double-bladed putter to try. "The day I picked it up, I started making putts,'' Quigley said. "I really feel that is as much to blame for my success as anything.'' He finished second at the FedEx Kinko's Classic on May 1, followed by a seventh place and a fifth before he came in second in a playoff at the Senior PGA. He tied for fourth at the Allianz Championship, and then two weeks ago beat Tom Watson and Gil Morgan in a playoff at the Bayer Advantage Classic., MSNBC, 24 Jun 2005

The Goose lays an omelet -- Retief Goosen putts poorly on Sunday with 36 putts, including 9 lip-outs, GolfDigest.com, 24 Jun 2005

ShotLink Statoid: Jim Furyk makes 26.6 percent of the putts he attempts from 20-25 feet away, The Journal News.com, NY, 23 Jun 2005

Natalie Gulbis ready to win -- wields a hot Hammy. That's the brand name of the putter Gulbis switched to this season. At 36 inches, it's 2 inches longer that her previous models, and she's using a split grip - she abandoned her cross-handed left-hand low style that resulted in too many blocked putts from inside of 10 feet - and now keeps her hands about 3 inches apart. -- "It took my hands out of the putting stroke," she said. "It's been really good for me this year," as her ninth-place standing in number of putts per green hit in regulation confirms., Sacramento Bee, CA, 23 Jun 2005

Kathy Whitworth set winning standard with 88 Tour titles -- more than anyone else male or female -- passed Mickey Wright's 82 and Sam Snead's 84 titles -- won all her events with same 1961 putter -- "My putter got older than most of these players; that's why I decided to quit.", Boulder Daily Camera, CO, 22 Jun 2005

For Tiger Woods, 2 Putts, a Trophy That Got Away -- missed 8-footer on 16th and 3-putt on 17th missing a 6-footer, Orlando Sentinel, FL, 21 Jun 2005

Putters prove priceless at 33rd Redding Pro-Am, Record-Searchlight, CA, 21 Jun 2005

A Gore-y end for 54-hole co-leader Jason Gore -- shoots 84, 4-putts 72nd hole, LimaOhio.com, OH, 21 Jun 2005

Retief Goosen: "It's just one of those rounds," he said. "I haven't putted this badly in a long time. We all have bad rounds. It's unfortunate it happened in this tournament.", Whittier Daily News, CA, 21 Jun 2005

Vijay Singh still can't putt -- Tiger Woods no longer best clutch putter -- only player with more putts in the Open was Singh, Augusta Chronicle, GA, 21 Jun 2005

Ben Hogan Tour Deep, Golf-Gear-Review.com (press release), PA, 21 Jun 2005

Tiger Woods' swing changes kicking in, but putting has fallen off -- "Look how beautifully I hit it all week," said Woods. "I really controlled my flight well. I drove the ball better. "The quality shots have gotten better, and that's exciting. "We changed a few things after Augusta, trying to fine tune that, because of what I was struggling with through Augusta. "And I've taken some nice giant strides, and that's exciting. "I just wish I could have brought my putter with it." If not for a disobedient putter, Woods would probably have added a 10th major championship to his trophy case and be halfway to the ever elusive calendar grand slam on Monday morning. His swing overhaul all but complete, he was the best of the 83 players at reaching greens in regulation at Pinehurst but was third last in the putting charts., 7news, Australia, 21 Jun 2005

Putting woes derail Tiger Woods -- "Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me," Woods said. "I didn't feel comfortable with my putter all week. It was frustrating because I could never get the speed right. I just didn't putt well," Woods said. "I played well today, but I just didn't putt well. I couldn't get the feel of the pace of the greens.", Coos Bay World, OR, 21 Jun 2005

Tiger Woods: "If you look at my last tournament, Memorial, I putted beautifully. I just could not get the speed right. And if you can't get the speed right, you can't get the line right. If you look at all my putts, short, long, short, long, and if you're doing that, then you start trying to fiddlefart around and try to find you're trying to force putt in the hole. And that's not how you make putts, you roll the ball. And I could not seem like I could hit the ball in the high line, hit the high spots and let it feed into the hole. If you're not able to do that, then you start hitting lower lines, trying to force it in the hole, and you can't do that, not on greens like this.", Cybergolf.com, 21 Jun 2005

Retief Goosen: "I couldn't make a putt to save my life and that was pretty much the end of the story." -- "I misread a lot of putts. If I didn't misread it, I had the wrong pace. I think after number 9 when I missed that putt, misread it by five inches, I sort of felt like this doesn't look like it's going to happen. But yeah, it was just one of those rounds. I haven't putted this badly for a long time.", noticias.info (press release), Spain, 21 Jun 2005

Putting plagues Vijay Singh in final round -- he was last in putting among the 83 players who made the cut, averaging 32.25 per round; that's 129 total. Winner Michael Campbell needed only 113 putts and beat Singh by six shots. "I played well. Just again, the putts kind of let me down," Singh said. "It was a very tough day.", noticias.info (press release), Spain, 21 Jun 2005

Pinehurst's No. 17 ends Tiger Woods' comeback -- again -- His 128 putts placed him second-last among the 83 players who made the cut. It's an open-and-shut case on what cost him the title., noticias.info (press release), Spain, 21 Jun 2005

Phil Mickelson gets more course than he bargained for -- marathon sessions with coaches Rick Smith and Dave Pelz brought out the preview bravado -- second-round 77 his worst performance in a major -- hit just eight of 15 fairways, eight of 18 greens and didn't make even one putt longer than 8 feet, Leesville Daily Leader, LA, 21 Jun 2005

Retief Goosen loses chance at third Open title -- Sunday 81 ties worst finish by a leader in Open history -- His putter gave him particular trouble. Goosen finished with 36 putts and hit just seven of 14 fairways, seven of 18 greens, Kansas City Star, MO, 21 Jun 2005

Tiger Woods' late charge putters out -- Woods ended up with 28 putts, eight less than a day earlier. But the putter cost him dearly when it most mattered, just as it had the entire week., Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, IN, 20 Jun 2005

Ron Whitten, Donald Ross wouldn't recognize Pinehurst greens -- Examination of Tufts Archives reveals that decades of topdressing altered shapes by adding a foot to the middle, causing greens to slope off at sides in a turtleback form, Golf Digest, June 2005

Free Golf Tips Really Short Putting

Grinding Tiger Woods can't keep pace with hot Retief Goosen -- "I had 36 putts today and most of my putts I was defensive because they're uphill and then going straight away from me. If you hit it three feet past, it's off the green." Woods, who was three shots back when the day began, put himself in a quick hole when he bogeyed the first and third holes, air-mailing the first green and missing a 31/2 footer that would have saved par on No. 3. -- "If you putt well, yeah, you can shoot a good score, but boy, you have to really try to position your golf ball somehow," he said. "I probably had two looks at birdies that I thought were realistic chances and I made one of the two. Other than that, I'm just lagging most of the putts.", Contra Costa Times, CA, 19 Jun 2005

Tiger Woods leads the field in greens in regulation, at 78 percent. He's dead last in putting, at 1.85 per green. Those statistics are linked, sure, because players who miss greens typically need fewer putts. Even so, Woods trails leader Retief Goosen by six shots mostly because he can't get birdie putts to fall., San Francisco Chronicle, CA, 19 Jun 2005

Retief Goosen punctuates third round with a 25-foot birdie putt from off the green -- leader by 3 headed into final round and third-round leader has won last six Opens -- no heartbeat and a great short game, Goosen just goes about his business as the most underrated player in the game, The Spokesman Review, WA, 19 Jun 2005

For Vijay Singh, putting is the weakest part of his game, but it makes the most difference in his success of failure, The Journal News.com, NY, 19 Jun 2005

The PGA Tour life cycle: Tom Lehman -- lost his putting circa 1998 -- Once the type of putter who relied mostly on solid technique, he said he found himself trying to emulate the likes of Brad Faxon and Ben Crenshaw and instead rely more on feel. The result was Lehman had lost confidence. Perhaps to another player, his performance over the ensuing years wouldn't have seemed so bad. Compared to where he had been, though, it was frustrating. After finishing atop the money list in '96, Lehman never again cracked the top 10. In 2002, when he switched to a long putter, he finished a career low 74th. "It wasn't me," he said of his putting crisis. "And then I tried to go back to what I was doing before, but I was caught in the middle. And you can't do that out here. You end up lost.", The Journal News.com, NY, 19 Jun 2005

Tiger Woods caged by a balky putter, News & Observer, NC, 19 Jun 2005

Paula Creamer, finally out of high school, leads Lorena Ochoa at Rochester by 2 after 5-under 67 -- offsets 3-putt on 2nd hole with a chip-in plus birdie putts of 30, 4, 12, 4, 5, and 15 feet, The Ledger, FL, 19 Jun 2004

Lorena Ochoa 2 back of Paula Creamer -- lips out from 4 feet and 3-putts from 20-feet, Cincinnati Enquirer, OH, 19 Jun 2005

Rules on the Green: Ball marked but not picked up is still in play, SunHerald.com, MS, 19 Jun 2005

Tiger Woods in frustration with poor putt deliberately scrapes the green with his putter in a long ugly line -- USGA guys give him a pass, New York Newsday, NY, 19 Jun 2005

Butch Harmon Tour: Travis Whisman Wins Back To Back With Pinfire Golf Eagle Putter, The Wire, 17 Jun 2005

Wearing ordinary sunglasses on the course? Don't look down your nose at ESD -- Eye-Plane Shift Distortion causes misperceptions due to looking thru curvature at lower half of lens, The Wire, 17 Jun 2005

New putter helps Becky Morgan to a 64 in Rochester -- nine birdies and one bogey, including one putt from 40 feet, Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX, 17 Jun 2005

Retief Goosen is one stroke off the lead at Pinehurst -- shoots 68 with great ballstriking -- only missed two greens -- but took 32 putts -- watch out if he gets the putts dropping!, Covers, Canada, 17 Jun 2005

US Open: Ian Poulter fuming over two putting cups / liners that were not seated the required minimum 1 inch below the ground -- ball hit the top edge and popped out, costing him a stroke -- rams the flag in afterwards to correct the situation, Daily Mail, UK, 17 Jun 2005

US Open: Vijay Singh disappointed in putting -- "I couldn't get the speed of the greens,'' he said. "It seemed like they were much slower than what we played the last two days.'', Chicago Sun-Times, IL, 17 un 2005

David Toms satisfied after shooting opening-round 70 -- missed only one fairway, hit 12 GIRs, but didn't get many putts to fall -- "It was tough to keep the ball in play, and I did that, but I just didn't make any putts," Toms said. "I played really solid golf, and just didn't get a whole lot out of it.", Asbury Park Press, NJ, 17 Jun 2005

Tiger Woods satisfied with par on 1st day -- "Granted, I didn't drive it as well as I wanted to. I didn't hit my irons as precisely as I needed to, either," Woods said. "I felt like I didn't make a lot of putts. But I just kept hanging in there, just kept grinding.", Cincinnati Enquirer, OH, 17 Jun 2005

Retief Goosen quietly trailing by a stroke -- "The course was probably softer Thursday than it was in the practice rounds. I think USGA officials were a little bit scared about what's been said with the course, that it's going to get too hard.", Arkansas Democrat Gazette, AR, 17 Jun 2005

Olin Browne: 11 fairways, 14 GIRs, 29 putts for 3-under 67 with 5 birdies and 2 bogeys -- Rocco Mediate: only 27 putts in 67 round -- recent switch to conentional-length putter after using long putter since 1991 -- "Worked very well for me today. Maybe one of the best putting rounds I ever had today.", Arkansas Democrat Gazette, AR, 17 Jun 2005

Afternoon sun turns greens into pool tables -- green getting harder and faster as the day wears on, San Francisco Chronicle, CA, 1 Jun 2005

Putting keeps KJ Choi under par in 1st round -- only 25 putts in round of 69 -- Putting was the key to keeping him on contention. While showing mediocre stats of 57 percent of fairway accuracy and 39 percent of greens in regulation percentage, Choi had 25 overall putts, averaging only 1.39 per hole., Korea Times, South Korea, 17 Jun 2005

Stewart Cink: 295 holes in a row without a three-putt and still going, Longview Daily News, WA, 17 Jun 2005

Jay Haas' woes in '05 continue with an opening-round 12-over round of 82 -- "It was pretty ugly. I didn't hit many fairways, which meant I didn't hit many greens. And I did not make any putts." -- work with Stan Utley on putting helped in 2003 and 2004, but not helping this year -- "Maybe I'm wasting my time out here. But who knows? Golf comes and goes. Hopefully, it will come back soon.", News & Observer, NC, 17 Jun 2005

Stacy Hollis: "She could putt the eyes out of the ball.", Rocky Mountain News, CO, 17 Jun 2005

Chris DiMarco in hunt after first day, 4 shots back -- disaster of poor ballstriking avoided with stellar putting -- only 7 fairways, only 7 GIRs, but also only 24 putts -- "(DiMarco) putted great," said his caddie, Pat O'Bryan of Fort Myers. "We didn't hit our first fairway until the 18th hole (DiMarco's ninth). The front nine he shot 3-over, and we could have easily shot 41, 42.", Florida Today, FL, 17 Jun 2005

NBC hopes "greens grids" bring out US Open color -- animation shows how balls roll after they land on the green, USA Today, 17 Jun 2005

Rocco Mediate's diet, improved back, swing work with Jimmy Ballard, and switch back to convenntional putter paying off -- Mediate put together a four-birdie, one-bogey round yesterday that included nine one-putts, with four par-saving putts of four feet or more on Pinehurst No. 2's treacherous greens. He switched to a regular-sized Bettinardi putter just two weeks ago, discarding the long putter that he had used since 1991. "My back is good enough now, and I wanted to get two hands on it again," he said. "It's working well.", Winston-Salem Journal, NC, 17 Jun 2005

Pinehurst greens softer than expected for opening round -- Luke Donald: "The greens were soft," he said. "A few times they even surprised me when I saw a ball spin back a little bit. You never see that much at a U.S. Open." -- Former Duke golfer Joe Ogilvie, who opened with a 9-over 79, said the greens were some of the slowest he has seen on tour this year. "There's not one putt I had -- and I had a lot of downhill putts and uphill putts -- and there's not one putt I had that I was nervous on," he said. "When you're in a major championship and you have a downhill 3-footer, usually you have the fear of God. There was none of that. You've actually got to hit the ball hard to get it there.", Durham Herald Sun, NC, 17 Jun 2005

Adam Scott looks to improve putting -- found only 4 fairways in opening-round 70 -- 31 putts -- "I missed a lot of putts on the back nine. I just couldn't get the speed and the line together. I'd like to play another three rounds just like today and if I make some putts, I like my chances.", sportal.com.au, Australia, 17 Jun 2005

Comparing Tiger Woods (70) and Retief Goosen (2-under 68) in opening round: Goosen hit 80% of the fairways, Woods 43%; Goosen hit 89% of the greens in regulation, Woods 66%. The American was better only on the greens, taking 30 putts to Goosen's 32., The Observer, UK, 17 Jun 2005

Bayer Advantage Classic: Once again, Dana Quigley gets better of Tom Watson in his hometown -- Watson leaves winning putt hanging on the lip then Quigley drains an 11-footer in playoff to win -- lost by a putt on 18th also in 2000 -- "It was a familiar scene," Watson said. "He made the putt again. He's 2-for-2 against me. I've got to do something about that boy.", Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH, 14 Jun 2005 Sergio Garcia works on his putts -- uses Adam Scott tip about making the putt in his mind, New York Daily News, NY, 14 Jun 2005 Sergio Garcia looking to make major step forward -- putted well winning Booz Allen after mental tip from Adam Scott -- A putting tip earlier in the week from second-placed Adam Scott proved the key, Garcia taking only 24 in his closing 65. -- "Sometimes you don't even have to stroke it well, you just make it with your mind. It definitely helped and it's something I'm going to keep working on and hopefully I can keep getting better and better," he added.. "For the past three years it's been my downside. The week where I putt more or less okay and I have a chance of winning or I win, but some weeks it feels like I can't make putts.", ic CheshireOnline, UK, 14 Jun 2005 Pinehurts caddies know the greens, News & Observer, NC, 14 Jun 2005 Three fantastic putts on last three holes -- Payne Stewart's 1999 US Open win at Pinehurst -- He won it with the putter, needing only three putts total in the last three holes and 24 for the round. Mickelson required 29. -- Johnny Miller: "You just don't make three putts like that on the last three holes of a major championship." -- "You guys watched it," Stewart said in the media center. "I putted my little derriere off today.", San Diego Union Tribune, CA, 14 Jun 2005 Putt-Putt: Only serious should apply, Charlotte Observer, NC, 14 Jun 2005 Another hometown heartache -- Tom Watson's putt to win stopped one-billionth of an inch short and just wouldn't drop -- Dan Quigley wins in a playoff, Kansas City Star, MO, 14 Jun 2005 Morgan Pressel frets over putting, but earns 3rd Open spot -- In an 11-hole stretch in her second round, which she finished 5 under with a 67, Pressel missed 10 birdie putts and showed her frustration. Then one long putt on the fifth helped her finish with three birdies in the last five holes. --"I finally made a 30-foot putt, after I missed so many 10-foot putts," Pressel said., Sun-Sentinel.com, FL, 14 Jun 2005 Luke Donald uses mental tricks to stay on top of his game -- Donald credits the work he does with Chicago-based "mental coach" Jim Fannin with helping him keep things together. "I feel like I've improved a lot there," Donald said. "You have to sell yourself on positive thoughts. If miss a putt, I tell myself I'm a great putter. It tricks your subconscious. Sometimes I forget and get angry with myself. It's easier said than done.", Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX, 14 Jun 2005 A different course -- USGA setup fiascos included 1998 US Open at Olympic Club, where Payne Stewart 3-putted from 8 feet when his first uphill putt rolled back 30 feet -- USGAs Tom Meeks to retire -- Nick price in May asked to scout Pinehurst course and make setup suggestions, Palm Beach Post, FL, 14 Jun 2005 'Upside Down' Greens Provide Biggest US Open Challenge, NBC 17.com, NC, 13 Jun 2005 What is the advantage of the center-shafted putters vs. heel-shafted putters?, GolfDigest.com, 13 Jun 2005 Think you know what "feel" is? Listen up -- you haven't heard the first thing about it, GolfDigest.com, 13 Jun 2005 NC Amateur: Jerry Richardson wins over Mike Goodes -- rising junior at NCSU wins by one with final 72 -- Goodes misses 12-footer to tie -- Richardson on 1989 champ: "Goodes was such a grinder and a great putter. I played a practice round with him and got a lot of pointers just from watching the way he played the game. He's really good.", College Sports, NY, 13 Jun 2005 2005 U.S. Open -- Long Story Short: Who'll prevail at Pinehurst No. 2 this time around? Think bombers with solid, creative short games, GolfDigest.com, 13 Jun 2005 Michelle Wie: 15 year old finishes runner-up in LPGA major despite missing numerous putts inside 15 feet -- dominates Bulle Rock's par 5s, Biloxi Sun Herald, MS, 13 Jun 2005 Tom Kite is sunk by his putter at Congressional Club -- He needed three putts to close out No. 3, then he three-putted No. 10 as well -- for two of his five bogeys -- on his way to 31 putts for the round., Washington Post, DC, 12 Jun 2005 Knox County Amateur: Long putt ends Ryan Henry's long wait for victory -- four-time bridesmaid cans 18th-hole 25-footer for the win -- "I've finished second four times .. standing there looking at the putt, I thought 'It's got to be your turn.'", Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, 12 Jun 2005 Chad Campbell's hard work on putting starting to pay off -- Campbell took 27 putts over his third round, three fewer than in the second round and six fewer than in his opening round. -- "I've been working hard on my putting, and it's nice to see it paying off, especially going into a major," Campbell said. "I thought I played good the last few weeks. I've been struggling putting. Like I said, it's nice to see the ball go in the hole and hit it where I am looking." -- Poor putting doomed many of Campbell's rounds this season. He ranks 75th on the PGA Tour in putting average and 168th in putts per round at 29.9. Those numbers seemed irrelevant yesterday, as Campbell had nine one-putt greens, including two in a row to begin his round., Washington Post, DC, 12 Jun 2005 As Vijay Singh has remarked: "To win a US Open you have to play half-decent, but you have to putt like God." -- Last year Retief Goosen played half-decent, one-putted 33 times and needed just 11 putts for his final nine holes., Telegraph, UK, 12 Jun 2005
Laura Davies 3-jacks 3 times and misses inside 5 feet at LPGA Championship -- Natalie Gulbis misses birdies three times inside 6 feet over last 5 holes, Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX, 11 Jun 2005

Keith Clearwater needs to solve his putting problems -- past work with Stan Utley on putting not paying off, Salt Lake Tribune, UT, 11 Jun 2005

Robert Allenby takes lead at Booz Allen Classic -- plays with allergic reaction in the hands that hampers his putting, but he sticks it close and doesn't need to putt -- made nothing longer than 10 feet and still shot 65, Boonville Daily News, MO, 11 Jun 2005

Michelle Wie's round full of missed chances -- all her birdie putts turned to par putts, Delmarva Daily Times, MD, 11 Jun 2005

RW Eaks' 65 ties Gil Morgan for lead -- caps 65 round with a 65-foot putt for eagle, Augusta Chronicle, GA, 11 Jun 2005

Dana Quigley -- drinking, gambling, cigars, golf -- the addict now under control who can putt, Kansas City Star, MO, 11 Jun 2005

A mild man behind the brutal US Open courses -- Tom Meeks has made some big mistakes setting up US Open courses since 1996, but players consider him the tough professor who gives hard tests, DetNews.com, MI, 11 Jun 2005

'Upside down' greens provide biggest US Open challenge at Pinehurst, Charlotte Observer, NC, 11 Jun 2005

Bob Dunn, It is time to become best friends with your putter -- some tips, Vail Daily News, CO, 11 Jun 2005

Brad Faxon slowly digging out of slump -- knee injury and wrong-track swing changes with Jim Hardy hurting overall game, but numbers gradually improving, Knoxville News Sentinel, TN, 10 Jun 2005

Tracy Stewart's timely putting tip transformed Payne Stewart's putting at 1999 US Open, USATODAY.com, 10 Jun 2005

Tips: Conquer fear by practicing pressure, Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN, 9 Jun 2005

Crozier's Corner: Before your tee time -- pre-round putting, Idaho State Journal, ID, 9 Jun 2005

Pepperdine's Michael Putnam 3-putts third playoff hole to lose NCAA Championship to Washington's James Lepp, CollegeSports.com, NY, 9 Jun 2005

Chris DiMarco leads Tour in putting and so is a contender for Open, Florida Today, FL, 9 Jun 2005

NJ State Golf Association Amateur Championship at Montclair CC: Mark McGowan emerges as the best -- Playing partner Michael Tash: "I knew I needed to get under par to have a chance, but I putted so poorly," said Tash, 43. "My putter cost me seven or eight shots alone in the last 18 holes. And he was unbelievable around the greens. He had several chances to give this tournament away and he didn't. He was the most solid player in the field around the greens. I've never seen anyone make as many putts in an amateur event than he did.", Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ, 9 Jun 2005

Long-ball hitter Victor Schwarmkrug finally switching to putting practice -- "There is no relevance to driving distance and low scores. Golf is about chipping and putting, and making putts. I've always known it. I've heard it since I was 12: Drive for show and putt for dough.", Chicago Daily Southtown, IL, 9 Jun 2005

'Poa' cursing courses, AZ Central.com, AZ, 9 Jun 2005

Nylon gives fake greens real feel, IdahoStatesman.com, ID, 9 Jun 2005

Stewart Cink's no 3-putt streak now at 259 holes, Los Angeles Times, CA, 9 Jun 2005

Putting from off the green, Times Picayune, LA, 9 Jun 2005

Ladies British Amateur Championship: Lucy Gould swings into British matchplay stages -- The 18-year-old former Welsh girls' champion from Bargoed posted a second-round 74 for a 146 total - just one stroke behind Sweden's defending champion Louise Stahle. -- "I actually played better today than yesterday but in the first round I took just 23 putts - and that really made the difference.", ic Wales, UK, 9 Jun 2005

Sergio Garcia hits 72 percent of his greens in regulation but is still only 168th in putting -- "I've had days where I felt like I putted pretty nicely and then days where I didn't putt it too well. It's just a matter of hard work and keep believing in myself.", TSN.ca, Canada, 9 Jun 2005

What players are saying about the 2005 US Open -- Tiger Woods: "At Pinehurst, you can putt off the green 50 yards and not feel like you hit a bad putt.", Reuters.uk, UK, 9 Jun 2005

Poor putting by Fred Couples leads to 1-stroke loss to Bart Bryant at Memorial -- "Bart deserved to win," Couples said after missing two putts inside 10 feet over the final four holes. "I can't really kick myself too hard. There are a lot of shots out there and there are a lot of things I did to save shots, too. But overall, I just needed one more putt.", Canada.com,ÊCanada, 8 Jun 2005

Annika Sorenstam ready for run at LPGA Championship: "I couldn't have asked for a better preparation than winning last week. I putted very well at ShopRite and I feel ready.", Scotsman, UK, 8 Jun 2005

Tiger Woods has an Open mind -- On his Memorial play: "I hit it good off the tees all week and controlled my irons well. I just didn't putt well early in the week. I putted better on theweekend, but it was too late.", Ventura County Star, CA, 8 Jun 2005

LPGA Championship: Bulle Rock no walk in the park -- 18th green has lots of humps, Delmarva Daily Times, MD, 8 Jun 2005

US Open Qualifier: Tom Pernice finally holes a 20-foot putt at the right time -- edges Chad Wilfong for a US Open spot by 1 stroke, Kansas City Star, MO, 8 Jun 2005

Untimely 3-putt by David Toms that dropped him out of contention -- heckling and clapping by jerk fan results in rude gesture, but officials take no action, Shreveport Times, LA, 8 Jun 2005

Weir Watch -- third missed cut in a row: "I'm driving it well but the rest of my game is poor. If you can't make a putt, you try to force your irons close and it can get away from you.", London Free Press, Canada, 8 Jun 2005

US Open Qualifying: Kyle Kovacs had it in hand until he 4-putted the 18th green, Los Angeles Daily News, CA, 8 Jun 2005

US Open Qualifying: Donald Trump to Lee Rinker: "You're fired!" -- Rinker takes it to the course and medals with only two bogeys -- both 3-putt greens, St. Petersburg Times, FL, 8 Jun 2005

Singh missed a half-dozen putts inside 12 feet, took another double bogey on the 17th and followed his 77 with a 74 to miss the cut for the second time this year., South Bend Tribune, IN, 4 Jun 2005

Paula Creamer's putting off -- missing at least six birdie opportunities, The Argus, CA, 4 Jun 2005

Backyard putting is a real ball, The Desert Sun, CA, 4 Jun 2005

Title hunt over for UNLV's golf team -- poor putting plauges Ryan Moore -- Moore lamented his struggles with the putter in the first two rounds. He worked on it after a 73 Thursday and said it was one of the keys to his improvement Friday. -- "Much, much better," Moore said of his putting stroke. "I rolled it very well today. I felt comfortable. If I had this stroke the first couple of days -- and, obviously, I didn't have it -- it would be a different tournament right now." , Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV, 4 Jun 2005

Tiger Woods hot on Jeff Sluman's heels -- Sluman: "I hit a tremendous amount of good putts that didn't go in, but I think everybody does that here, as good as the greens are.", Dayton Daily News, OH, 4 Jun 2005

Backyard greens, London Free Press, Canada, 4 Jun 2005

Curv Convex Putters To Add Accessories To It's Online Store, Money Plans, India, 4 Jun 2005