Three Yes!Golf putters must be won
...plus an exclusive fitting and a putting lesson
Posted: 19 February 2009
by Bob Warters
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Winners will be fitted at the Yes!Golf studio
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For years the perceived wisdom about putting was that when a golfer dropped shots on the green, either their aim was off, their grip was wrong, their technique was dodgy or the putter was cold.
Chances are it was a combination of all four with the added disadvantage that the putter itself was wrong for them in the first place!
Now, in an exclusive competition in association with Yes! Golf, Golfmagic is offering three lucky golfers the chance to win one of the latest
Yes!Golf standard range of putters PLUS a custom-fitting AND a lesson from a coach at the adjoining Harold Swash Putting School of Excellence in Southport.
Yes! Golf putters have been one of the revelations in equipment on Tour in recent years, ever since engineer and putting guru Harold Swash invented the C-Groove putter face technology, which grips the ball on impact and keeps it hugging the putting surface and rolling towards its target.
In winning the US Open in 2001, Retief Goosen was one of the first to use the technology, which has since been adapted into the 33 putters currently in the Yes!Golf range. They include the Donna model used by Henrik Stenson in December to win successive events - the World Cup in China and Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, southern Africa.
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The Jennie putter - latest from the Yes!Golf stable
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New putters in the 2009 range include the Athena, Ashley, Robin and Jennie - any of which are up for grabs for our winners who will receive VIP treatment on the day of their fitting and be featured in a special fitting and coaching article on Golfmagic.com.
HOW TO ENTER
For a chance to win, tell us in a forum post what in your opinion was the most significant putt you've ever witnessed, seen on TV or read about. One which made you exclaim 'Yes!' as the ball dropped in the cup.
It could have been an Open winner, a Ryder Cup match-decider or one you or pal holed at your local course. We'll allow you a MAXIMUM of TWO FORUM POSTS to submit your entries and then we'll ask the sponsors to choose their favourite three.
The winners will get the chance to visit the Yes!Golf headquarters in Southport to be fitted biomechanically for a putter of their choice, receive a putting lesson from a Harold Swash Putting Academy coach and be featured in Golfmagic.com.
CLICK HERE to enter. Entries close March 18.
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Discuss this story
I've got one i saw on tv and one I saw in real life. On tv - 2008 Tiger at the Arnold palmer invitational on the 18th green to win - holed the longest putt of the week, with more break than an o'sullivan snooker match. Bart Bryant, who was beaten, new before he hit the putt that it would drop. And The King watched from greenside as Tiger equalled Ben Hogans 63 carreer wins with his 6 in a row and keeping alive the ridiculous possibility of the perfect season! In real life - John McHendry - Second hole he was giving me a shot and I'd holed out for 4, he had a 30 footer to (he thought) half the hole. It was only the second hole and he was already 1up but i've never seen concentration like it. As soon as i saw the look on his face i new it was going in, and it did, dead center. I felt like a cheat when I reminded him I'd already won the hole! Just amazing how he could summon up the concentration at such a benign stage of the match! It's going to be one of the memories that hang around... Cheeers.
Posted: 19/02/2009 09:58
No. 1 Ryder Cup 2004, Sergio Garcia 18th green morning four balls, earned him and Westwood a ½. "Sergio Garcia had an impossible putt for bogey on the 18th hole during his morning four-ball match with Lee Westwood. His putt needed to go up and over a huge swale, then downhill toward the cup. Oh, and the 45-foot putt had about 25 feet of break in it. It was assumed that Sergio was putting only to give Westwood a read for his shot from the other side of the green. Whether that was the case or not, Garcia picked the perfect line and the precise speed needed to make this once-in-a-lifetime putt. The ball tumbled into the hole on its last revolution and helped Team Europe halve the match"
Posted: 19/02/2009 10:08
No. 2 Tiger Wood 72 hole at the US Open to take tie Rocco Mediate and force an 18 hole playoff. On a busted leg to tie for a play off. A bobbling putt all the way to the hole, the reaction and everything about it was pure theatre at it's best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo95mUZiAVU
Posted: 19/02/2009 10:11
Both mine are long putts 1: Terry Wogan's monster on Celebrity proam with P Allis 2. Mate who plays about once a year - holed out a 100 foot putt on the 8th at Dorset Golf and Country club. Makes me weep as I play at least 3 times a week in the summer
Posted: 19/02/2009 10:18
Maybe not the most significant putt in the grand scheme of things, but I was once playing against my father in law, needing to win the 18th to draw the match, it started hailing as we drove off, by the time we had reached the green it was quite heavy hail. I had about a 20ft putt for a birdie to take the hole, anyone who has read any of my posts will know putting isn't my strong point  , but I gave it a whack, as it left my putter it was way too fast, but luckily as it bounded towards the hole it started picking up bits of hail from the green and slowing down, by the time it reached the hole the ball was about 10% bigger than normal and it slowly teetered on the edge before dropping in  May not sound like much but losing to my father in law means I get the mickey taken out of me for ages, so for me it was like putting out for a win in the Open 
Posted: 19/02/2009 10:24
Hale Irwin from some 30 YARDS right across a very sloping 18th green to be the oldest winner of a US Open. The year 1990, the venue I think?-Winged Foot? Costantino Rocca putting from the Valley of Sin at the 18th hole at St.Andrews in The Open of 1995 to equal John Daly's score and force a playoff!
Posted: 19/02/2009 10:26
Ryder Cup - Final Day - Hunter Mahan v Paul Casey - 17th Hole Game was all-square after 16. Casey launched a huge drive down the fairway and Mahan followed suit, although Mahan was in the semi-rough making his approach difficult. Mahan landed on the front green but left himself a difficult putt some 40 feet from the pin with a ridge to negotiate. Casey's approach landed pin-high and rolled on to 18 feet from the hole. Mahan holed an incredible putt and pumped his fist amidst huge celebrations from the U.S. fans. Now under severe pressure to match him, the Englishman leaves his putt well short as Mahan took the hole to go 1-up again. Casey went on to win the 18th and halve the match.
Posted: 19/02/2009 10:29
Gary Evans - 2002 Open Muirfield I had not long taken up the game when this moment captured everything I would come to love about the game. Evans, the archetypal journeyman pro was in the hunt in the biggest tournament in the world. After losing a ball on 17 he holes an outrageous snaking 50 footer for par. Cue glorious celebrations.
Posted: 19/02/2009 10:31
The most significant putt I've seen on TV was actually a missed putt!! But the Desert Storm clad Americans were still there shouting Yes! Bernhard Langer's agonising missed putt on the 18th @ Kiawah Island. As if the man hadn't been through enough putting woes throughout his career, he was left with that 6 footer to ensure Europe kept the Ryder Cup. The fact that he was even able to draw the putter back showed real guts. To see the anguish on his face as it just slid by was a moment of true sporting drama.
Posted: 19/02/2009 10:35
Most outrageous putt by me was at a Captain's day a few years ago. Everyone was outside the clubhouse towards the end of the day taking part in the putting comps and enjoying a few (too many) beers. There is the "long putt" prize and it had already been holed the length of our practice putting green which must be about 40ft. Our group came in and after a lubricating Stellas tried to take the putt "offroad". There is a strip of about 6 foot of shortish rough and then a bank which is about six feet high. One of our group putted through the rough from the base of the bank and saw it hop & skip onto the green before scuttling across and dropping in the side door. Only option left was to go to the top of the bank, I hit a nice stabby stroke, the ball popped up with loads of top spin. First bounce was just on the fringe some 6 feet below couple more bounces along the way before steamrollingsmack into the flag and dropping in. I ran off shouting Yes! and a few more colouful decscriptive words thrown in before regaining composure and offering my apology to the Lady Captain for any bad language that she may have heard!!
Posted: 19/02/2009 10:58
A former colleague when a group of us were on a trip to Ireland. "Colin was getting copious abuse for carrying two putters - one he referred to as his "fairway putter" as he was having the yips with his chipping clubs... Several rounds into the trip we were at Lahinch and Colin topped his approach on a par 3 on the back nine. Miles short of the hole, out came the "fairway putter" and you've guessed it.... From at least 50 yards short of the green he gave it a big wack, more twists and turns than a Hitchcock Thriller, between pot bunkers , still accelerating at it hit the pin! In for a two, Colin turned to the rest of us who were in stiches and said, "There you go, Fairway Putter!"
Posted: 19/02/2009 11:55
My most memorable putt was during my brothers first adult/junior tournament. It was played on the par 3, 9 hole course and the format was best ball. We got to the 4th hole after scoring 5,4,3. The 4th is tough as the green is raised and there's a bunker all the way along the front of it. Heres a diagram of it. I hit my tee shot right missing the bunker but finding the rough. My brother also missed the green but we decided to play my tee shot. Our opponents both hit the green. My brother chipped our ball on to the back of the green leaving me with about a 35ft putt for par. Now to be totally honest I was just trying to get it close so we could get a 4. I aimed quite a way to the right of the hole and was just concentrating more on the length. I hit it and whilst watching could see that it looked like it was a good length putt. In the last 5ft it started turning left towards the hole and I couldn't believe it when it went in. Me and my brother both shouted "Yes!". Our opponents missed their putt for birdie and also got a par. We went on to finish 6 over through 9 holes which included 5 pars in a row and finished 2nd in the tournament. Unfortunately I have not repeated this since.
On tv: Happy Gilmores putt on the 18th to win the Waterbury Open putting off a car, tv tower and other obstacles.
Posted: 19/02/2009 12:28
For me, I think the most memorable putt was the one that didn't happen in the match between Nicklaus and Jacklin in the 69 Ryder Cup. (Even if I was only 1 at the time...)That for me sums up the sportsmanship in golf. I'm sure many shouted 'Yes' after that.
Posted: 19/02/2009 12:49
It has to be the putt that Phillip Price holed to beat Phil Mickleson on the final day of the Ryder cup at the Belfry!!! It was a good length putt that gave him a great win in what must have been the moment of his career!!! It couldnt have happened to a nicer guy either. I was shouting "yes" and jumping around my front room like an idiot but from memory a few more expletives came out of Phillips mouth!!!!
Posted: 19/02/2009 13:05
As a self confessed brilliant putter........ ...<waits for the tumbleweeds to roll by>... ...I nailed a 30ft quad breaking putt on Houghton-le-Spring's notorious par 5 10th's green. It's a two-tier affair but with a "U" shape running across the middle of it. My ball was on the same level as the hole but in order to get to the hole I had to traverse the "U". Now any putt of that length is a hit & hope but I scoped out a rough line based on how I thought the ball would react going up/down/over and up and bugger me it went in! It was jammy that it went in but my chosen line - one of very few occasions for me - was spot on & it wouldn't have been more than a 1ft away either side. Magic darts!
Posted: 19/02/2009 13:08
The best putt i witness in the flesh was when Thomas Levet Holed out on the 17th during the Victor Chandler british masters on the marquess course at wooburn!! He run around the back of the green high fiving everyone including me and my dad!!! It was the best moment ive seen watching live golf.
Posted: 19/02/2009 13:11
Has to be the British Open in Carnoustie July 2007 on the first day of official play. I turned up 8am in the morning to watch my first ever live golf tournament not knowing really what to expect on a typical Scottish summer weather of freezing cold and drizzling rain for the majority of the day left me and my pal fed up, baltic and not enjoying it one bit. Deciding rather than follow anyone we would just sit in the grandstand of the par 3, 16th hole and watch the tee shots and putts by various pros. 4 hours and £4.50 down on “20p he holes it” bets. A certain Mr Tiger Woods hits a sloppy (by his standards) tee shot to barely make the edge of the green; leaving him a 90ft slightly uphill and a snakey route putt for birdie. As he addressed the putt I turned to my mate “bacon roll he holes it”. The bet was excepted and the putt went on its way and kept rolling and rolling and rolling until it fell in the hole. The noise level, atmosphere and general good feeling made all that waiting in the rain worthwhile and I could have sworn after the Woods party was half way down the 17th fairway and I was tucking into my free bacon roll that the sun came out to shine. You can tell it was a good putt when Tiger himself admitted in press reports afterwards that when he address the putt he was really only worried about avoiding a bogey. To me that putt must be up there with his chip at the 2005 masters and his 4 iron to hole out at Hoylake as great shots by the great man at the Majors. Its memories like that, that make you want to go back to watch live golf and even now watching Sunday night final rounds on the telly when someone holes an amazing putt and the noise levels go through the roof you can kind of associate with it. Cheers, Ross
Posted: 19/02/2009 13:12
Greg Norman, open 08 round 2, 18th hole. Par putt from just off the back after hitting one wildly long. Hit in with such confidence and got the thousands watching shouting YES! An unforgettable moment in what was my second Open. Standing there we felt like Norman really could win it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlWVyDOibmU (see 4min40)
Posted: 19/02/2009 16:12
As a 24 handicapper, the first time I birdied the par 3 third at my course. Stroke index 1, my a**e! Winter, the greens had all been tined and looked like teabags (would've had more fun putting on tea bags). But we were just glad to be out there and happy that the whole course was open. All summer and autumn I'd been really struggling with my irons and finally I was getting somewhere. Lovely tee shot, maybe a bit far, but it is on the green, an upturned bowl. When we get there and have look I'm a lot further than we initially thought, right the other side of the green. If I was to list every obstacle against my ball going in, I'd typing for a few hours yet!! I jokingly said to one of the lads "I'm going to birdie this" (christ, I'd only been playing for a year) and looked at the putt all seriously. Well I hit it. The ball went everywhere, bobling all over the shop, all the while I'm thinking "just be close enough not to have to 3 putt". It went left, right, left - did a little jump - and fell into the cup. There is no way I'd ever hole that again, it was just too random, but what a feeling. Maybe a new putter and lesson, would once again help me approach putts like that, with the same confidence I had that day.
Posted: 19/02/2009 16:23
Everytime i sink a put for par or birdie or to win the hole or even a lovely double bogey i let out a YES!
Posted: 19/02/2009 16:24
Seve's final putt at the 1984 Open at St Andrews. To me, it totally summed up the man. Such intensity, concentration, flair, skill, passion and drama. Seve seemed to will the ball into the hole and his celebratory fist pumping afterwards long remains in many people's memory. A truly spectacular grandstand finish by one of the legends of the game. My other choice would be at Augusta. After having played one of the best fairway bunker shots of all time, Sandy Lyle holes a 10 foot downhill double breaker to lift the Green Jacket. This paved the way for Faldo, Woosie, Olazabal to do the same shortly afterwards.
Posted: 19/02/2009 17:35
The most memorable putt for me wasn’t particularly long, or all that difficult, but Seve’s reaction after holing out on the 18th at St Andrews in 1984 is such that you can’t help but share in the jubilation he’s obviously feeling. For me that moment captures the spirit of one of the true greats of golf.
Posted: 19/02/2009 17:37
Adey! Oh well, at least we agree it was a great putt!
Posted: 19/02/2009 17:41
had my dinner and thought about this the most famous putt which a lot of people worlwide said YES! thats true sportsmanship is the final hole of the 1969 ryder cup when jack nicklaus conceded a put and picked up tony jacklins marker meaning they tied.
Posted: 19/02/2009 17:54
The most impressive putt i ever saw holed was by Darren Clarke at the par3 14th at my home club, Clandeboye, in NI. It was on day 3 of the NI Masters in 2002, and despite a hurricane blowing, he had just gone birdie, eagle, birdie to be at -4 for the day and took the lead of the tournament - a challenge tour event that he was co-hosting.
Anyhoo, he blocked the tee shot to about 35 ft. (I should explain that the 14th had been relaid and members felt it was too severe - like an elephant buried just under the surface!) Consequently we were taking bets on the odds of a 3-putt!
He stalked it all around and banged it straight in the middle. The place erupted, he followed it up with another birdie on 18 for the finest 65 i have ever seen. That putt truly made it though, standing out a mile from anything else he holed that day.
Needless to say he went on to win the event the next day and donated his prize to his charity foundation.
Quality play from a quality player, and a quality guy.
Posted: 19/02/2009 18:28
The most memorable putt I have witnessed was one of my own (sorry about that)... I was playing in a club match for Crowborough against another local club Piltdown. We were playing the afternoon foursomes. Unfortunately, my playing partner was having a mare of a day but fortunately I had been playing really well and we were holding our own when we got to the 14th (par 5). The "opposition" was the Piltdown Secretary and their club Captain. My partner had elected to drive the even holes, and as I walked down the fairway to wait for his drive, we looked back and he hit the most awful hook which sailed miles into the trees. Our opponent had creamed a nice drive straight down the middle. I was almost tempted to throw in the towel on that particular hole but dutifully walked back to the tee to drive our three off the tee. I absolutely nailed a drive straight out of the screws, and put us nicely in position in the middle of the fairway. Our opponents then played their second shot and ended up in the heather some 70 yards short of the green. My playing partner hit a nice 5 iron to leave us sitting about 10 yards short of the green. Our opponents managed to get out of the heather and were on the green for 3, we were lying 4. I took a long look at the pin, from our position it was downhill all the way, and as the fairway grass at Crowborough is fairly short I elected to putt. From the minute I stroked it I knew it was going to be close. It kept rolling, rolling, rolling and then dropped for an amazing par! I couldn't help but punch the air and shout "yes!!". An eagle with our second ball! It rattled our opponents so badly that from their position on the green they three putted, and we won the hole. It really affected their game from there on in and we ran out 2&1 winners and the the club won the overall match. That is the best putt I have ever canned, and it must have been a good 50 feet or more. I'll never forget it.
Posted: 19/02/2009 18:51
Will probably get pelters for this, but credit due.... Justin Leonard, Brookline, the infamous 1999 Ryder Cup. Now viewed with acrimony by most European supporters, but Justin Leonard deserves the credit for an inspired putt. He'd already holed a couple of long ones to pull back from 4 down against Olazabal, and the match and contest was in the balance as Leonard lined up his monster putt from the bottom level of a two-tier green. Like most people, I was probably thinking Olly had a chance as Leonard was very much in 3-putt country. And, I daresay I yelled "NOOOO!" as the ball smacked into the cup. However, I'd guess that several million Americans were shouting "YESSSSS!" as Leonard effectively won his country the Ryder Cup from a seemingly impossible position.
Posted: 19/02/2009 19:10
The putt that made me shout "YESSSSSSS !!!!" was Seve's putt to win the Open in 1984. It was a great climax to a tournament that had everything and the joy he showed will live in my memory for ever. Also the fact that I had bet £10 at 11/1 on him to win made it a lot sweeter.
Posted: 19/02/2009 19:32
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