The Pro’s 1-inch putting gaffe goes viral. But there is more to the story
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Paul Broadhurst sighed. “Ohhhh.”
The Sky Sports presenter cried loudly. “Oh, no, don’t like that.”
You probably didn’t either. Maybe you saw what happened. The clip went viral on Thursday.
In it, the 58-year-old Englishman approached what looked like a 1-inch bogey putt on Carnoustie’s 7th green – and at this point in the description, it’s clear where this is headed. Holding the putter in his right hand during the first round of the Senior Open, Broadhurst swung and missed. Maybe there was a contact. Maybe not. But the ball didn’t go in, and Broadhurst burned the stroke. (In the Laws of Golf, “stroke” is defined as: “The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.”
After missing, Broadhurst connected on his second attempt, knocking his ball out of the cup and reeling in after a double bogey. Notably, assuming the miss was unlikely, the broadcast cut off seconds after it happened, and then replayed it later.
Said the announcer on the second program: “Just a minute ago over there on the 7th green, just watch this. This was for class. We decided quickly. “
One broadcaster said: “On his day, he could have matched someone else, and it’s obvious that he’s frustrated, he’s in pain. Just look at this.”
The first broadcaster said: “Well, to me, that’s a stroke attempt. I think you know it. That will be six on the card instead of five. He is not in good shape under 8.”
But there is a little more here.
A short time earlier, after his tee shot on the 7th, Broadhurst participated in a “walk and talk” with course commentator Tim Barter. He did so with wisdom. [You can see it in the picture at the top of this story.] In an interview, Broadhurst said he had been battling arthritis in his right ankle. In some PGA Tour Champions events, carts are allowed, but in the Senior Open, they are not.
Still, Broadhurst plays. In the 2016 Senior Open, also at Carnoustie, he was the winner.
Below is the Broadhust exchange and Barter had it all.
Barter said: “Obviously he walks with a stick. We hear about arthritis. How much of a challenge is this to play without a wheelchair, which you are allowed to do in America?”
Broadhurst said: “It’s a really big challenge. … Yeah, arthritis in my right ankle, but I wasn’t going to go out, so — it’s the ultimate winner here so I’ve got to let it go.”
Said Barter: “I was going to say, he won the Senior Open here back in 2016. Where is that on your list of accomplishments?”
Said Broadhurst: “No. 1, no question. To hold the Claret Jug, whether it’s the Greatest or the modern day, definitely ranks as No. 1 and that sits in my cabinet at home and I can look at it every day with a sense of achievement.”
Barter then asked what a player would need to do well this week – “besides covering a few putts, obviously.”
Indeed. Eyerie.
So, the miss is painful.
But the ankle, too.
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