‘Wasn’t my putter’s fault’: Tour winner gives his side after viral meltdown

Patton Kizzire said the word folks have been saying, albeit accidentally. 

In a heavier moment, the Freudian slip lightened things up.  

“It wasn’t my punt — my putter’s fault,” Kizzire said. “Punter. Putter. It wasn’t my putter’s fault.”

Punter. Putter. If you missed the news, the three-time PGA Tour winner summed things up. On Thursday, during first-round play at the Valspar Championship, Kizzire had missed a 5-footer for par on the 15th hole at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort when golf and football suddenly came together.  

As seen during the Golf Channel broadcast, Kizzire started to walk before his par putt reached the hole. He took three steps. He moved his putter out in front of him. He moved his right leg back, then through, then into the middle of the club. Kizzire booted it.  

It went up, up, up; nearby broadcast cameras panned up but didn’t catch its apex. A couple seconds later, the putter dropped back down, onto the green, about 40 feet away. 

Said analyst Gary Koch on the Golf Channel broadcast, “Auditioning maybe for his NFL career?”

Said analyst Brad Faxon, “That was about a 20-yard — that would have been a field goal. The extra point.” 

Said Sands, “Your [Tampa Bay] Bucs looking for a kicker?”

Said Koch, “No, I think they’re comfortable with who they have.”

A close-up showed Kizzire’s leg strength, though — the putter was bent where he struck it. From there, he ended up hitting his remaining putts with a wedge, then withdrew two shots into his 18th hole with what was called a back injury. 

Early Monday afternoon, Kizzire took to Instagram to give his side. He said he lost his cool and that the action was unacceptable. The complete message is below. 

“Hey, everybody, Patton Kizzire,” he started. “I just wanted to address the situation at the Valspar Championship last week. I wasn’t feeling well and I certainly lost my cool. It wasn’t my punt — my putter’s fault. Punter. Putter. It wasn’t my putter’s fault. I just lost my cool, and it’s unacceptable. I’m looking forward to being a better version of myself and I appreciate you guys understanding.”

Ahead of the kick, Kizzire struggled a bit. On 10 (he started play on the back nine), he missed a 17-footer for par. On 11, he missed a 13-footer for birdie. On 12, he missed a 3-footer for birdie. On 13, he missed a 15-footer for birdie. On 14, he made a 4-footer for par. 

After 15, Kizzire took just 10 more shots, though. He bogeyed the par-4 16th. He parred the par-3 16th. On the par-5 18th, he hit a tee shot and a second shot — and he then withdrew.

Kizzire is currently in the field for this week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open.