Newfound putting prowess has Purtzer contending consistently  PGATOUR.com Editorial Coordinator PALM COAST, Fla. -- His shot on the 18th hole -- one he described as "it's everything you want in a finishing hole" -- evoked loud cheers from the large crowd stationed near the final green. A well-struck 6-iron from 149 yards off the green, the ball came to rest less than 4 feet from the hole.  Tom Purtzer is just one whack back of leader Keith Fergus at Ocean Hammock. (Chris Condon/PGA TOUR/WireImage)
Then, using his newfound putting prowess, Tom Purtzer tapped in for one of his five birdies of the day. It was "probably the best drive of the day. [I] killed this drive," said Purtzer. And that second shot, the one made even more impressive since it was on a hole that caused 31 bogeys and just three birdies in the second round? "It looked like it might have almost gone in," he said. The fireworks on No. 18 were much better than the waterworks he experienced on not one, not two, but three holes during the second round of the Ginn Championship Hammock Beach Resort. His scorecard reflected that roller coaster of a round, with three bogeys accompanying those three shots that landed in the drink, plus two eagles and eight pars. On the 16th hole, part of a four-hole stretch of toughies that got the best of Hale Irwin and Jay Haas, amongst others, Purtzer had a nice shot off the tee. But he misread the wind, one that several players described as blowing exactly the opposite from the winds during Friday's round. "I played it out there to the left, thinking that the wind would move it back to the right. I pulled it a little bit. But it kind of caught the bank and went through the bunker into the water," he explained. "So I took off my shoes and socks, got down in the water, and was able to hit it out." His 66 for the day placed him just one shot behind Keith Fergus, who sits atop the leaderboard at 10 under. Purtzer and Brad Bryant are one back at 9 under for the tournament, while Mark O'Meara and Joe Ozaki finished Saturday's round at 8 under. Those scores were low for such a blustery day. "You're going to hit some funky shots just because of how much wind is blowing. But I don't really feel like I stole anything. I don't feel like I lost anything. I played really good," said Purtzer. "I'm just not going to think about the balls I hit in the water. Usually I don't hit that many balls in the water. But everything worked out." Everything's been working out for Purtzer lately, since he was the last person to win on the Champions Tour, beating Loren Roberts on the fourth playoff hole at the AT&T Champions Classic at Valencia Country Club. Though that probably didn't even earn him the honors of "best known in his pairing" -- he teed it up today with O'Meara and Gil Morgan -- Purtzer is quickly becoming a player to be reckoned with each week on the Champions Tour. "It's kind of a funny deal. When you make a few putts, then you get a little confidence going and that helps a lot [towards improving your game]. This week I'm still trying to do the same things, making good strokes, and the ball's finding the hole." And that's due in part to a few useful tips from Stockton. See, when Purtzer was out in Southern California, he saw D.A. Weibring heading to the course early to get a putting lesson from Stockton. Purtzer, who felt he "needed lots of help" where Weibring didn't, wanted a few helpful Stockton gems for himself. " 'Why is he helping you; you don't need any help putting?' " Purtzer inquired of Weibring. But luckily there was plenty of help to go around, as Stockton offered to assist Purtzer any time as well. They worked together Wednesday of the AT&T Champions Classic for about 15 minutes before Stockton's round. "My eyes were way inside the ball and that causes a lot of different things," said Purtzer. "So once he got me set up properly, then I was able to make better strokes with it." It's not all physical, so Stockton gave him hints for what should go on between the ears, too. "The thing he helped me with most was the stuff that he thinks about when he putts. Not so much stroke-wise, it's just the stuff that he thinks about. That probably helped me as much as anything." With his last win just two weeks ago, Purtzer earned one more victory than he has children, as he and his wife have eight kids, including two different sets of twins. The 55-year-old turned professional in 1973 and has earned five victories on the PGA TOUR and four on the Champions Tour. His latest win propelled him into third place on the Champions Tour money list and in Charles Schwab Cup points. With Loren Roberts not in the field this week, Purtzer has a chance to close in on the No. 2 player. He sits just 156 behind Roberts in the season-long race, where players earn Charles Schwab Cup points for top-10 finishes. Both Roberts and Purtzer are trying to catch Jay Haas, who leads with 601 points. And, so long as Purtzer keeps those putting tips in mind and stays out of the water, he stands a chance at a second consecutive win and a move up in the standings. Copyright 2007 PGATOUR.com. All rights reserved. |
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