Round 1: Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation
January 19 2012
6:08 pm
Villegas comfortable with belly putter
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM
LA QUINTA, Calif. — Count Camilo Villegas among the latest belly putter converts.
He has been playing with the long putter for the last five events, starting with the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia where he tied for fourth.
The putter performed particularly well on Thursday in its PGA TOUR debut as Villegas used just 24 putts to seize a share of the lead at the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation. He’s tied with David Toms after a 63 on the Nicklaus Course, one shot ahead of Ted Potter Jr., Sang-moon Bae and Brandt Snedeker.
Villegas didn’t go to the long putter on a whim, though. He’s been practicing with it since 2008 because he feels that it helps his technique with the shorter model.
"The only thing I told myself is, hey, listen, if I’m going to put it in play, I’m going to practice with it — a lot — for about a month, then put it in play," Villegas said.
"I think a lot of guys make a mistake here where they just grab a belly putter, it feels great for 5-10 minutes and they go with it. Then they miss a couple of putts and it goes to your head and they go, whoa, what’s this? Out. So I wanted to put it in play and keep it in play. It’s good."
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another convert
Another player using a club which should be made illegal.
Jason: Have you used one???? It doesn’t istantly make these guys amazing putters. Look at Camillo’s record he has shot -9 before. He has won tournaments before, but clearly lost some confidence on the greens. He has been practising with it since 2008 to improve his stroke with the short stick….should practice with it be illegal also. All these people who hate on the belly putter need to go try it. If i see your name at the top of the PGA tour because you are using it then I may think that it is illegal. I am a golf pro and I use one…but it is just like the short one. It hasn’t made me a tour star. I had 24 putts with mine I didn’t shoot -9….WHY??? Because you also have to hit greens in regulation.
Also it is only 1 round!!!
I am torn. I don’t think the putter makes the player better, but something just seems wrong about it being secured to your body. Physics would imply the putter head would be more stable, and personally i don’t know why all these guys aren’t using one.
Another cheat to join Bradley, Langer, Perez, etc.
What’s next for the nerve-challenged golfer? Placing a tripod over the ball with a putter suspended from it?
Can’t the authorities see that by permitting this cheating to continue they are desecrating the heritage of the game and the fantastic players whose careers were dramatically affected by the yips?
Arnie is a case in point. Sam Snead & Tom Watson too. How many more would they have won if they’d been legally allowed to negate the yips with a cheating belly putter?
Could you possibly be more careful about whom you apply the moniker “cheater” too. I think you have a valid argument to take up with the ruling bodies, however as this equipment is currently legal these players are not “cheating.” Also, I would caution you that since everyone can use them, no one is gaining an undue advantage over anyone else, only perhaps against history. Maybe they will be banned, but until that time, please realize that these players are simply attempting to to their jobs to the best of their abilities withing the rules, so that they can make a salary and support their lifestyles, family and loved ones.
“I’ve been outspoken about it; I’ve been against it,” Els said. “Right now I’m glad they haven’t banned it. If they ban it, that’s also fine with me. As long as it’s legal, you know, I’m — I’ll keep cheating like the rest of them
Chris, the point is that not everyone is interested in using one. Mostly just people whose careers are at risk (like Palmer’s and Snead’s were) because they can’t control their nerves. Controlling nerves is a HUGE part of professional golf.
I don’t blame the players; I blame the golf authorities. Their rule in this area forbids anchoring of the club (which is deemed to be cheating) but they have been too gutless to enforce / strengthen it.
What about Sam Sneads Croquet Putting, It was basically an anchor point with a swing…ok it was deemed illegal but he just moved to side saddle.
http://www.thewayputters.com/straightforward.html
As Mike, Els and Chris have stated the Belly Putter is not illegal and will not be till at least 2014, so is it not about time that we stopped with the cheating and the griping over who is using what. If it was that much better they would all use it and no one would care. The long and belly putters go back decades so it is not a new thing.
Vijay Singh…used it to win multiple times but I don’t remember it being such an issue.
Only 8 of last years top 25 on the PGA Tour used a longer than standard putter (belly or long) meaning 17 others. The top 3 in the world used the short putter. 3 of 4 major champs used the short putter
So is it an advantage to use the Belly or Long putter…..who knows. Would Keegan Bradley or Webb Simpson be the stars they are….who knows.
All we do know is everyone can use one as it is not cheating!!!!!!
Finally….
Mike Millar……A Tripod?????? Really???? A little too far I think…maybe your imagination working in overdrive.
Rory, the long (broomstick) putter is clearly within the rules and I don’t think anybody has a problem with that.
It’s the anchoring of the putter against the body that allows players who cannot control their nerves to remain competitive. I reckon that’s cheating and should be outlawed.
I agree that the belly putter is a more solid anchor but the Long putter is still held against the body either the chin or the sternum. The top hand will rest against the body at some point. Very hard to use it away from the body.
replace tim finchem with paul netherton
problem solved
I hear that Camillo’s arms are anchored to his body… I think he should have to chop them off for his next competitive round
:)
Another convert, er, I mean, coward.
Belly putters are for the weak and mentally challenged.
Rory, if u r a pro and u r using a belly, u should be ashamed.
Saying that someone is a cheater because they use a belly putter is crazy. How do you equate anchored to mean the same thing as holding something against your body? You guys are illiterate d-bags. Especially Mike Miller haha
Remember Langer holding the putter shaft against his left forearm? Wouldn’t that be anchoring the putter to his body also? Just because some guys choose to use it and some don’t, does make it “cheating”. Same with the wege groove issue, Mickelson brought out his old ping wege to use. Pros will use what is allowable.
[...] Classic Malaysia, with the Humana event the sixth in which he has put it into play, according to PGATour.com’s Helen Ross. So far, so good, as the golfer who ranked 141st in strokes gained-putting in 2011 needed only 24 [...]
thanks chris, u made me laugh out loud. maybe they all should play with their arms chopped off…..
My big problem with the belly putter is that the 53 inch is still allowed. If they limit the length of the driver at 48 the same rule needs to apply for putters. I’m not okay with the belly putter, but as long as it’s within the rules, it can’t be called cheating. For now it’s like considering the bounce on a wedge cheating. It’s still legal, even though I’m as against it as ever.
I have no comment really, I do believe that golf is getting tougher so why not make it easier!