Tiger Woods Switches Back to Cameron Putter, Considering Third Putter
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 18, 2010 11:18 AM EDT
in Pro Golf
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PrintThe good folks at Nike Golf could not have been happier when they found out that Tiger Woods put the Nike Method 001 putter in the bag for the supposedly slow greens at St. Andrews. Running very slow pre-tournament, Woods theorized that the polymer/metal technology would help him roll the ball forward faster.
Through three rounds, Woods had just one shy of a century of putts. On Saturday alone, he had thirty-five putts. He had 32 putts in each of the other rounds. That was enough for Woods to move back to his Scotty Cameron putter for today's final round.
As Jay Busbee points out at Yahoo!, Louis Oosthuizen had just 88 putts through three rounds. The eleven putt difference through three rounds could be basically explained by Woods' ten three-putt greens through three rounds. In other words, Woods' theory about the Method helping his pace was dead wrong.
It's clear that Woods continues to struggle with the putter. An expletive-laced tirade during yesterday's third round after after missing a short par putt would represents Woods' frustrations well.
Steve Williams acknowledged before the championship that his man's putting has been "substandard." Perhaps it is time for Woods to acknowledge the same.
Until Woods is humble enough to shoulder the blame instead of heaving the blame to the ground every time he misreads a putt, he is likely to consider a third putter.
Taking a trip to the miniature golf course paid off for Happy Gilmore. No reason that it couldn't for Woods.
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I'm confused
When did Woods blame his Scotty Cameron putter? He had not so nice things to say about the greens at Pebble, but I don’t recall anything about his equipment.
Oh, I’m sorry, what you mean was ‘Until Woods is humble enough to shoulder the blame publicly, along with answering any questions we in the media might have regarding his personal life instead of heaving the blame to the ground every time he misreads a putt, he is likely to continue to receive snarky comments from us consider a third putter.’
Woods tacitly blames the SC putter when he switches equipment. You’re right, though, he’s also blamed the greens themselves a la Pebble.
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by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 18, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Woods’ deal with Nike, though, pretty much allows him to dictate whatever Nike equipment he wants to play with them.
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by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 18, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
That is correct.
I would state is it is as possibe Woods switched putter due to pressure/prodding from the company that pays him millions of dollars as much as blaming his SC putter.
My main point was the ‘Tiger should blame himself instead of his tools’ is a cheap shot. Make all the cheap shots you like, but don’t act like it wasn’t one.
by TwoNuse on Jul 18, 2010 4:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don’t think I’d call it “pressure” to change putters. Tiger stays in contact with the Nike equipment people, and you can bet that they pitch their putter ideas and take his feedback to heart. This isn’t the first Nike putter he has had with him on the road. Not even the first Nike putter he has played rounds with. He played with a Method putter at a few outings last year, but none were what he wanted as his gamer. Nike doesn’t try to tell Woods what to do – he is too important to their golf and clothing divisions.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Ryan
Do you have the quote were Wood’s blamed the SC putter or point me in the direction of where I can find it? I must have missed that, because all I heard was he switched in an effort to adjust to slower greens. Wouldn’t you agree that a player making this kind of change is extremely common on tour? (Granted we’re not used to seeing it from Tiger). And I did hear Tiger say in post round interviews “he” putted poorly (which is true) but again I missed him saying anything about it being the putters fault or any other entity for that matter.
Fight for your opinions, but do not believe that they contain the whole truth, or the only truth.
Charles A. Dana
The green putter's just plain illogical.
Akin to playing a white ball in Antarctica.
He could play with a different colour every day
The red one for Sunday, obviously.
He did say HE has putted badly all week. Didn’t hear him blame the putter at the end.
Wendy
It’s called the “Excuse O the Week” As poorly as Phil played this week, he didn’t blame, the greens, wind, weather or equipment. He blamed only himself and thats to be comended. Tiger on the other hand goes home with his excuses and tail between his legs.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Exactly when did you hear Tiger make an excuse for his play ? When he plays bad, he says he played bad.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
T-23rd isn exactly a stunner
Especially in his book. Remember he always has said in the past, “All that matters is winning the Majors” also, “Second Place Sucks” quote unquote. He never once said he played bad, he just blamed everything else. I recall it wasn that long ago that TGC always said Tiger could, " Will the Ball in the Hole with His Mental Toughness" Lets face it court, It’s not a six win season like last year and he won’t be winning any awards this year. Everyone says what happen to Tiger is none of anyones business. Well, business or not he did it to him self and obviously it has hurt is game in more ways than one.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Jumpn
Of course TW isn’t satisfied with 23rd, it’s a poor finish for him. And I think second probably still sucks in his book, especially in majors. He’s not playing well, but in my estimation that’s a short term thing, he’ll be back at some point. It’s not his year and that’s OK. With that said, I disagree with your contention he was making excuses, I never saw it anyway. Perhaps you can provide the quotes, I may have missed it?
Fight for your opinions, but do not believe that they contain the whole truth, or the only truth.
Charles A. Dana
Luck of the draw weather wise
and occilating golf balls ring any bells TH ? I saw hgim mention it several times.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
jumpn
I think you’re trying to make something out of nothing. Describing the conditions is not the same thing as saying that’s why I didn’t win. Even Phil after his round on Thursday was talking about the bad break of playing late and getting the tougher conditions. Was that “excuse making”, or just stating the facts as he saw them? Tiger putted poorly and he said so, no need to make any more of it than that.
Fight for your opinions, but do not believe that they contain the whole truth, or the only truth.
Charles A. Dana
Sorry – you’re going to have to be more specific. Tiger complained about he greens at Pebble – but so did just about everybody else in the field. When he hit a bad shot – he owned up to it. He hasn’t said anything bad about St Andrews – and he hasn’t blamed anybody but himself for his play.
I’m missing the connection you’re trying to make. He’s not playing well – he’s admitted that, as if anybody other than a “journalist” needed the confirmation. Pretty easy to figure out that his personal life travails (that he brought on himself – yet are STILL none of our business) are affecting his game.
wait – Winn McMurray’s on screen…. :-)
I don’t understand how xxx Golf Channel’s idiotic and cliche hype affects Woods’ game. Nor do I see how his personal life being none of our business affects his game.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
LMAO !
Funny stuff, RB
However – I’m pretty sure that the profanity laced tirade IS an admission that his putting is not going well. He told Tom Rinaldi that he isn’t putting well. Not sure how much more plain he can be.
He didn’t blame the Cameron by switching – that’s crazy. He had a purely Phil Mickelson reason, depending on science to help him with his speed on these slower greens. Guess what – he’s not blaming the Nike for the switch back to the Cameron. It was an experiment that just didn’t pan out as well as he hoped.
Oh – the greens are not “supposedly” slower – the ARE slower. It is measurable and definable. (where is stat man when we really need him ?)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I agree they are slower, absolutely. But I think the Stimpmeter reading isn’t necessarily accurate at St. Andrews because of the wind, different weather exposure on parts of the course, etc. So, it’s not always a 10. Sometimes it’s a 12.
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by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 18, 2010 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
C’mon, court, you know I don’t mean literally.
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by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 18, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
that wasn’t the question – do you know how stimp readings are done ? I do.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Then to answer your question, yes, I do.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 18, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
If the greens on an Open course were like Augusta
say, 14 on the Stimpmeter instead of the 10 they are, the wind would affect the ball. All seaside greens in Britain are simular…weather conditions demand it.
What we really have to do
for all those that worship at the TIGAR shrine….TH, F&G, TWO, and that kid in Calif. sitting there with his 49er blanky…..It’s all about the money honey…..Woods knows his putting is sucking, so what does he do….Give all the worshipers a reason to go out and buy another 400.00 putter, cause if he uses it, ya ;;know it has to be good….Right ?….and hopefully, they already went out and bought the 400.00 Cameron….Now, I’m askin ya not to belittle my Bulls Eye….That would also make the new Cup Manager, mad, and Ya know what happens then…He would make TIGAR play his way on the team, and if his recent performances are any indication, that isn’t a sure thing….But back to the putters….I heard a rumor,, jist a rumor mind ya, he’s cutting a deal with Ping, so that they can sell more too….Gotta keep the equipment dollars in circulation……STUB
come on Stub – you’re setting yourself up to be the opposite end of the “ridiculous” scale where Tiger is concerned. He’s not using the Nike putter to sell more Nike putters. You’re right that there are people who will go out and try whatever is in his bag, but this is beneath you.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Court, at least you picked
up on the “ridiculous” I didn’t even try to disguise it….What brought it on, was a visit to an Edwin Watts shop, and truth….2 guys were asking when they could get one….really makes ya wonder, where are the sane people are…..STUB
Just don’t pretend that it only happens with Tiger. This Method putter isn’t some POS that Nike rolled out to have a putter with a swoosh. They went through two other sets of putters that were (especially that unitized putter – yeesh !).
Now if you want a POS connected with a big name – that Response putter Nicklaus used at the ’86 Masters. They sold thousands of those things overnight.
It happens with just about every big name. Unfortunately, REAL putter makers like David Mills don’t get the useage they would get if players didn’t think the cash first from Titleist and Ping and Taylormade.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
The putters I own...
are the Odyessy Two-Ball and the Ping Asner 2. I have no plans to buy any Nike equipment.
I have drunk the Kool-Aid on the TW polo shirts though.
by TwoNuse on Jul 18, 2010 4:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
any relation to the Ed Asner ? :-)
Gotta admit – Nike has some nice shirts.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Nice shirts indeed
But I digress, hahaha ,( had to say that thanks to the Fedex Commercial) there are many on the market that are just as nice if not better that cost half as much. The Walter Hagen line is very fashionable and well made and cost about 1/3 of a Nike.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
There is a bit more to these Nike putters than those Hagen putters. CNC milled, but the Nike putters are designed with more attention to balance and propert center of gravity…plus you get the opportunity to pay extra for that swoosh. :-D
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I'm still playing with my 16 y/o Ray Cook putter.
And thanks to that putter I finished 2nd low gross amoungst 48 players a week ago. My best showing so far this season.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
you might have finished first in “gross” if you had worn those bengal pants Daly had on Saturday. :-)
Ray Cook makes really good putters. I’d probably still be using a Blue Goose if an old roomie hadn’t taken off with my clubs for the summer…then not returned. (lol) Which one do you have ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I have the
Ray Cook, Classic Plus IV with the two dime size brass balance inserts on the bottom. I also have the grip wrapped up with gauze tape that I replace once a season. I luv it.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Sorta like
SURF and TURF…..grows on ya doesn’t it ? Comon now, admit it….ya know ya wanta….STUB
Oh good lord...
Wendy Nix is interviewing Oosthuizen’s wife. She’s fired.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
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