Different Strokes For Different Folks
While many viewers were watching Rory McIlroy sweep the field at the U.S. Open on Sunday, eyes also turned to one player who had one unusual putter.
Robert Garrigus was the American with the lowest score at the tournament, tying for third place; he was also the only one with a putter that was 28 inches long.
To put it into perspective a standard putter is usually between 33 and 35 inches long. The putter Robert Garrigus brought to the U.S. Open was only 28 inches long.
Why the small putter? According to the Garrigus was fitted for a custom putter when he was 19 and had an easier time with the short putts when he used the smaller putter. This was the length on the putter where he felt comfortable to hole those 3 and 4 foot putts.
The position a shorter putter puts you in allows you to easily rock your shoulders when your upper body in nearly parallel to the ground. Obviously you can see from the picture this position can be hard on your back. However, for Garrigus the feel of a solid stroke during his putts brings enough confidence to outweigh the minor backache it may cause.
The model Garrigus used at this year's 2011 U.S. Open is a Scotty Cameron for Titleist Studio Design Squareback 2. Even though he has joked that he was sponsored by the U.S. Kids Golf, which is easy to believe when you see him initially pull the putter out of his golf bag. Garrigus is actually a decent putting machine with this golf club.
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