Desperate Pádraig belly flops after trying long putter
Yesterday, less than 12 months after declaring his fervent opposition to a putting method that governing bodies plan to ban from January 2016, the 41-year old Dubliner took the brave step to do something about the balky putting stroke that has left him winless on the game’s top two Tours for close to five years.
His bravery went unrewarded as he crashed to a horrible, eight-over-par 80 in the opening round of the Wells Fargo Championship — his worst round on US soil since he shot a second round 80 in the US Open on Oakmont’s fearsome greens in 2007.
The golfing gods took their revenge for his ‘sacrilege’ as he putted poorly, taking 32 swipes with a TaylorMade putter anchored in his midriff and missing three times from inside four feet.
In truth, it was his long game rather than his long putter that really let him down as he made nine bogeys and tapped in for his only birdie of the day from three feet at the par-five 15th.
In short, he takes his lead from British Open champion Ernie Els, who used a belly putter to win his fourth Major at Royal Lytham last year.
“For the game, I definitely don’t agree with anchoring at all,” Harrington said last night. “I think it’s bad for the game of golf. But I’m going to use everything if something’s going to help me for the next two-and-a-half years [until the ban is official on January 1, 2016], I’m going to use it.”
Yesterday, he explained his about-turn and what must have been a painful decision. Indeed, despite his poor day on the greens, he plans to stick with the belly putter for the foreseeable future.
“I was bored last Monday week, and I was like, ‘Oh, I wonder what that looks like’, and I was surprised to see everything was better [with the belly putter]. In terms of the mechanics, it was a far better stroke.
“It wasn’t very good today in terms of feel, but I will use it again tomorrow, no doubt. I just wasn’t quite as comfortable which I kind of knew was coming.”
His move will likely give the R&A and USGA another reason to justify the ban — it makes putting easier.
“I’m surprised,” Harrington said. “I had picked up the belly putter in the past and have always hated it, but when I put it on the analysis, everything came out better. So that encouraged me to get over the thought that I don’t like the feel of this.”
Harrington’s 80 left him 13 strokes behind joint clubhouse leader Rory McIlroy, who shot a five-under 67. He shares the lead with Ryan Moore, Nick Watney, Robert Garrigus and Derek Ernst, who lead by one from Boo Weekley and Phil Mickelson, although Daniel Summerhays was at six under after 16.
Harrington still had the good humour to crack a joke about his predicament, despite getting his maths wrong.
“You know, three and a half years [two years seven months] is a long time of golf, 15 Majors. I could have Jack [Nicklaus]’s record by the end,” he said, prompting gales of laughter from a knot of reporters. “Why do you laugh so loud at that?” he then enquired in mock horror.
“I’m just saying I don’t think you’re going to win the next 15,” a reporter replied. “13, maybe.”
“But you don’t have to laugh so deep — from your belly.” Touché.
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