US Open: Masters champion Danny Willett ‘smashes putter in two pieces’ after it does not ‘behave itself’
But new putter could only add a three over par 73 in the final round – dropping Masters' champion to a poor eight over
MASTERS champion Danny Willett was using a new putter in the final round of the US Open – after smashing his previous one to pieces in frustration at a poor finish to the third round.
Willett exploded after a three-putt on the 288 yard par there eighth hole cost him a second successive bogey, and he slammed his putter onto the path as he walked to the ninth tee.
Fortunately, that was his final hole, as he started the third round on the tenth. He putted out on the final hole with his sand wedge – and ironically, finished with a par!
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Willett came to Oakmont hoping to take a second step towards an unprecedented calendar year Grand Slam, and a second round 70 gave him a glimmer of hope that he could still force his way into contention.
But he could only add a three over par 73 – dropping him to eight over for the tournament - and after playing 36 holes in a day, those closing bogeys stretched his patience beyond breaking point.
Willett said: “Unfortunately the putter is now in two pieces. I’ll have to get it refurbished and I’ll not be using it again.
“It didn’t behave itself. The putter has been bad all week and I got frustrated ad had to finish out with the wedge.
When it gets refurbed, I won’t pull it back out. I’ve brought it out of retirement once, but it’s going to stay at home now.
“There was a lot more than one club that helped me win the Masters. It’s only a club at the end of the day “Luckily we had a couple of putters with us this week so I was able to put another one in today. I don’t usually carry numerous putters but funnily enough I did this week.
“But I shouldn’t just blame the club. I’ve been doing a lot of work at home because the putting has not been quite spot on. Paul Hurrion was out this week with me, trying to get a bit of work done.
“It’s a week that could have been pretty good but when you’re having 33, 35 and 33 putts the first three days it’s not going to put you anywhere near contention.
“It was just a bad week on the greens. They’re tricky to read and it’s tricky to keep the pace and line the same. I hit the lip a lot and things just didn’t quite go our way.
“So I’m disappointed with the week. But it could have been a lot worse when you look at some of the guys who missed the cut and stuff.”
