OK, maybe long putters aren’t cool, but it does seem that Adam Scott has at least made long putters an acceptable option for players that previously wouldn’t consider one. Lee Westwood put one in play at the Masters. Ernie Els is reportedly thinking about bagging one this week at the Verizon. and are right there with him (even though Greene thinks they should be illegal).
Bill Haas is also apparently considering making the switch after Brendan Steele used a belly putter to win the Valero last weekend. Tiger was even photographed practicing a long putter stroke during his golf tour of Asia last week. After all of his 3 putts on Sunday at the Masters, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he’s at least been testing one.
When asked about Scott’s success at the Masters with a long putter, Anthony Kim quipped, “Obviously it’s working for him. Maybe I should go try it.”
In the past, putting a belly putter in your bag was a tacit admission that you had some serious putting problems and you were looking for something… anything to save your game. But now with players like Scott and Steele having success with long putters, players seem to be viewing it as another tool to play better… even if they hold their noses while using it.
Personally, I’ve tried a both a belly putter and a long putter in the past and found that I putted worse with them. But I don’t have a problem with people using them. Unless somebody in my foursome shows up with one and beats me. Then they should be illegal.
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