Show Golfer Usually Blames Wrong Club When Three Three Putting Thinks Smith By lly PAUL ZIMMERMAN IAN Associated Press Fress Sports Writer LOS ANGELES F Feb b. b 9 The 9 The golfer who finds himself himsel consist consistently three putting greens blames the wrong club most of the time in the opinion of Macdonald Smith one of at the games game's best professional professional pro pro- putters It isn't the putter said the silent Scot from Carnoustie who was in one of ot his rare talkative moods You are not playing not playing as conservative con con- a game as you used to play he was accused Youre going corns lor tor birdies and eagles on onS S those putts more than ever be be- ton fore J The Scot dropped his cloak of silence Oh nol not he said ald nol Oh Ob no Depends on Lie When they're up there inside 15 feet from tram the pin you ou can afford afford af af- af- af ford tord to go for those putts and It has been my luck to have them up there this winter When you are farther away you ou have to play pIny the ball safe for tor si a sure parThe parThe parThe par The golfer goler who is three-putting three Is blaming the wrong club Most of ot the time it isn't the tho fault of ot his putter Generally his approach approach ap ap- ap shots arc nrc bad When you OU are nrc getting your seconds and thirds inside the foot 15 circle you youcan youcan ou can poke the ball into the cup Outside e of ot that you Qia to hit the ball baIl and it Is a different stroke smoke Theres There's a lot of ot difference differ ence In putting from 15 feet or orless orless less and from 30 feet Just Like Billiards Just like billiards You play coaxing shots a while and gets the feel of the thc cue Then you change and pIa play three-cushion three where you have to hit bit the ball to catch the banks Then switch switchback switchback switchback back and try coaxing the ball for tor shots again You find youve you've lost your touch The same goes for putting From 15 feet or less it Is a coaxing coaxing coax coax- ing stroke where you ou have the feel teel of at your our shots Outside that circle it is a n hitting stroke and andou andou you ou lose that real putting touch touche |