A frustrated Patton Kizzire turned his putter into a football during Thursday’s opening round of the Valspar Championship, punting it 20 yards across the green in a moment of pure golf rage.
The three-time PGA Tour winner lost his cool after missing a par putt on the par-3 15th hole at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course.
“Auditioning maybe for his NFL career?” quipped Golf Channel analyst Gary Koch as viewers watched the unusual meltdown unfold.
The 39-year-old’s impromptu field goal attempt left his putter badly bent and unusable. He had to finish the hole – and his shortened round – using a wedge instead.
“That would have been a field goal. The extra point,” commentator Brad Faxon added with a chuckle.
It wasn’t even that bad a day for Kizzire up to that point. He’d missed some birdie chances but nothing catastrophic. Still, something inside him snapped.
The drama didn’t last long. Kizzire withdrew from the tournament just a few holes later, citing a back injury. He was three-over-par through eight holes when he called it quits.
Maybe that kick took more out of him than expected?
The PGA Tour quickly moved to scrub most videos of the incident from social media, but the damage was done. It’s the kind of outburst that’s likely to catch the attention of Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.
Golf has seen plenty of club throws and even the occasional snap, but Kizzire’s soccer-style punt adds a new move to the tantrum playbook.
He’ll need a new putter next time he tees it up. And he might need a good explanation for Tour officials too.
