Believe me, I’ve tried everything to get back to my earlier form. I
even switched putters at St. Andrews, which I had not done in over a
decade. What’s next, the belly putter? The claw? A witch doctor?As you know, nobody has made more key putts over the last two decades than I have – the birdie putt to force the playoff with Rocco at Torrey Pines, the one in the playoff to beat Chris DiMarco at the ’05 Masters. I could go on and on. The point is that, even more than the long drives and crisp iron shots, what really deflated my opponents was that they knew I was going to make the big putt and I knew it.
I don’t know it any more.
Two-time major champ (1970, 1976 PGA) Dave Stockton has long been regarded as one of the game's top putters.
(AP photo)
(AP photo)
The thing that kills me is that I could be at 16, maybe 17, majors by now, if I’d only made a few extra putts. Take the 2009 Open at Bethpage. I should have won that one but struggled on the greens. Same goes for the PGA last year when I lost to Y.E. Yang. Y.E. Yang? Nothing against the guy, but Mr. Stockton, I should never lose to Y.E. Yang. Not in a major.
Then, this year, I couldn’t make a thing down the stretch at Augusta, and had an excellent chance to win last month at Pebble Beach. Forget about St. Andrews. I couldn’t have beaten Louis what’s-his-name if I were putting like I did in 2000.
I must also tell you that I’m a little worried, and I ask that you keep this between us. If the press found out about this letter, they’d be on me more than ever.
There are no guarantees in this game, and in life, as I’ve begun to realize.
Just because I made those putts in my teens and 20s and early 30s does not mean I will make them from here on. Look at Tom Watson. When he captured the 1983 British Open for his eighth major title, he was only 33 years old, only a year younger than I am now, but he never won another major. He stopped making putts. It happens. It happens to a lot of great players.
I know I shouldn’t panic. There is still plenty of time for me to pass Jack. If I remain healthy, I probably have another 10 years of top-notch golf left in me – or about 40 majors. All I have to do is win five of them, one out of every eight. I should be able to do that in my sleep.
One more thing: You might have some misgivings about assisting me as you’ve already become the top putting instructor for Phil Mickelson, and people think there’s some bad blood between Lefty and me. Nothing could be further from the truth. I think quite highly of the all-knowing one.
I want you to know I have no problem with you working for both of us. As long as you make me the priority … I’m kidding!!!
The old Tiger might not have been as gracious. But, as I told the press back in February, I am determined to become a better person, on and off the golf course.
Besides, the new Tiger can’t putt.
Thanks for taking the time to read this letter and I look forward to hearing from you.