After struggling on CordeValle’s greens to open the Frys.com Open, skeptics of the progress in Tiger Woods‘ game suggested a switch to the belly or long putter might be in the offing.
Woods said Tuesday that will never happen – not because he is reluctant to use one but that his current stroke mirrors the motion forced by the belly putter.
“[T]he way I believe in releasing the putter is exactly what the belly putter does,” he said. “So my putt into my putter generally stays right there anyways. I like to release it with my right-hand.”
The world No. 52 said the belly putter stroke is a change, however, for rival Phil Mickelson.
“Phil’s always been one who does drag the putter a little bit and the handle and been very successful at it. But the belly putter is in actuality a releasing stroke, which I believe is how you should putt,” he said. “So when I pick up the belly putter and I try it, it’s very similar to my stroke. The only difference is the weight throws me off.”
If Woods adds more lead tape to his putter like he did to help with speed at the Frys.com Open, the weight might not seem so strange.
