Bradley dispels myth of long putters

If there’s one thing that raises the ire of reigning PGA champ Keegan Bradley, it’s the delusion that long putters are the cure-all for the yips. The first golfer to win a major with a belly putter, Bradley took issue Wednesday with those who believe the elongated clubs provide him and others with competitive advantages.

"I've seen guys grab [belly putters] and it looks like they've never played golf before," Bradley, last year’s Rookie of the Year, told reporters gathered for the kickoff to the PGA Tour season Friday in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. "It's not like it's something you grab it and you automatically are one of the best putters on tour, which is a huge myth."

Keegan Bradley hates it when people dis his belly putter (Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Bradley, who along with Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, and Bill Haas posted victories last year with the long sticks in their bags, said that people’s interest in their use "shot up" after Phil Mickelson toyed with one at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Just don’t call it a crutch, pleaded Bradley, who was 97th in strokes gained-putting and 55th in three-putt avoidance in 2011.

"I hate the negative press it gets because it's not some magic thing that you grab and you can just the first week out you win," said Bradley, who will start his sophomore year on tour ranked 31st in the world. "It takes hours and hours of practice, and I hope people realize that."