May17 Westwood putter
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Lee Westwood’s win at the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia in Spain will be forever linked to Mark Calcavecchia’s putting woes of nearly two months ago. The story begins – and ends – with a Ping prototype putter designed and built with Calcavecchia’s considerable input.
The putter, a fully machined, aluminium mallet design with an Anser hosel, was used by Calcavecchia in the first round of the PGA Tour’s POD’s Championship in March but was quickly shelved after a round that required 36 putts. He then switched to a store-bought Ping Redwood putter for the rest of the tournament which he won in record-setting fashion.
The way in which Calcavecchia acquired the Ping Redwood – personally purchasing it at an Edwin Watts Golf store – received a great deal of national attention. The fate of the Ping prototype putter wasn’t reported until last Friday, when it resurfaced in Westwood’s hands during his record-setting performance at the Aloha Golf Club in Andalucia, Spain.
The week after his win, Calcavecchia returned the prototype putter to the Ping Tour Trailer, where it rested for two weeks. At the Shell Houston Open, Westwood was in search of a new putter and came upon the prototype while working with Ping Tour rep Matt Rollins. Westwood took the prototype, along with several other putters to test.
After experimenting with the one-of-a-kind design at The Masters, Westwood arrived in Andalucia with the prototype still in his possession along with several other putter models, including the PING lil’l c™ mid-length putter he used in an opening round of 72. The even par round was enough to send Westwood to the putting green for some more work with the prototype, which found its way into his bag for the second round.
That second round proved record-setting for the 15-year veteran. His eight birdies set the course record 64 and moved him into contention entering the weekend. He followed his record performance with a 65 (7 birdies, 1 eagle) in the third round to grab the final-round lead.
A closing round 67 included eight more birdies that earned Westwood a two-shot victory. Fittingly, he holed a 40-foot putt for par on the final hole to seal the title, not to mention the fate of the PING prototype putter that found its way from Calcavecchia’s doghouse into Westwood’s trophy room.
