Ian Poulter at Doral

[gbower]

Does anyone know what the problem with Ian's putter was??? I saw a rules official talking to him and pointing to a weight or something on the putter but don't remember hearing anything else about it. He finished the round putting with an iron and was putting all right with it.

[foxman]

The colorful Brit had to adopt the unusual strategy after accidentally altering his putter as he walked to the 15th tee on Saturday. Poulter had tapped the putter on the cart path as he walked, and the weight on the back came loose, although it was still attached to the club.

Poulter explained what happened to rules official Robby Ware as he walked down the 15th fairway. Ware told Poulter he couldn't use the putter because it was damaged and was now non-conforming under Rule 4:3/9. Poulter then asked for a second opinion from rules official Andy McFee of the European Tour, who agreed with Ware's decision.

"I was talking to Andy and in my view the face hadn't changed, the shaft isn't bent, it's still in its current form, but under the rules, it's deemed to be taken out of play," Poulter said.
Here is a link to the ruling.

http://www.worldgolfchampionships.co...ort/index.html

[gbower]

Well after looking around I found out what happened. Ian missed an 8 ft. putt and when walking to the next hole tapped his putter on the cart path and the weight in the back of the putter loosened and therefore changed making it non-conforming and as it wasn't in the normal course of play he wasn't allowed to replace it or fix it. I guess everyone that gets these clubs with moveable weights had better be careful and especially with the interchangeable shafts coming out you can't make any kind of change to them during the round.

[gbower]

Thanks foxman, you beat me to it.

[Big Johnny69]

So what "putter" did he finish the round with? Driver, wedge?

[jvincent]

I saw him use a wedge on 18 on the highlights. He sank a 20 footer for par.

[gbower]

The article said it was a wedge and on TV they thought it looked like an 8 iron.

[jvincent]

The one they showed on 18 was definitely a wedge.

I just checked and he played the last four holes in even (bogey, birdie, par, par) without the putter. Not too shabby.

[Baxter]

I'm sorry but that seems stupid. Why could the guy not tighten it up and go on. I understand if he changed it but he did not....

You do have to love how honest these guys. He could have just tighten that and no one would have known....It's one of the best things about watching the PGA.
The respect for the game and each other ...perhaps a few other sports should taken a few lessons...

[jvincent]

If it had been damaged during a swing he could have repaired it but since it wasn't damaged "during the normal course of play" Rule 4-3b prevents him from using it.

[Marcos]

I think putters are way overrated LOL.Rules are rules even when they dont make sense.

[Mattchew]

he made a couple good putts or wedges in the last couple holes! did not really hurt him at all!

[gbower]

I remember a couple of years ago Weir using his wedge for some holes to end his round and in the interview after he said he practices using a wedge. If you can putt with an iron a putter should be a snap.