After struggling on the greens during his first round at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, Lee Trevino switched to a belly putter for Tuesday’s second round. What resulted was a testimonial for – and against – the anchored stroke, the likes of which only Trevino could offer.
‘I had the yips so badly with that little putter yesterday that I thought I had bleeding ulcers,’ the six-time major champion explained as part of a Golfweek report Tuesday. ‘My belly was burning up so much that I thought I had eaten some jalapeno peppers.’
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Playing in the Demaret Division, which pitted two-man teams of players 70 years and older against each other in a 36-hole format, Trevino reportedly borrowed a TaylorMade Ghost belly putter from his playing partner, Mike Hill, for Tuesday’s second round. The improvements were apparently significant.
‘Now I see why they want to make this one illegal,’ he added. ‘It’s like cheating. I swear to God. This is the easiest thing I’ve ever seen to putt with, is that belly putter.’
Trevino also was quick to share his opinion of how Bernhard Langer, already a winner twice this year on the Champions Tour, might fare without the use of an anchored putter.
‘There’s no question he wouldn’t be playing like he is if it wasn’t for the long putter,’ Trevino noted. ‘It takes all the pressure out.’