Patton Kizzire's Bizarre Putter Punt at Valspar Championship Leads to Tournament Withdrawal
Patton Kizzire had an unusual meltdown during the first round of the Valspar Championship, kicking his putter approximately 20 yards across the green after missing a par putt on the par-3 15th hole at Copperhead Course, Innisbrook Resort.
The three-time PGA Tour winner's outburst damaged his putter, forcing him to use a wedge for putting on subsequent holes. Kizzire, who started on hole 10, played eight holes at three-over-par before withdrawing from the tournament, citing a back injury.
Golfer practicing swing on course
Young man smiling in blue shirt
The incident drew immediate reaction from Golf Channel commentators, with analyst Gary Koch joking about Kizzire "auditioning for his NFL career," while Brad Faxon remarked it "would have been a field goal."
Despite having some putting difficulties during his round, none of Kizzire's misses were particularly egregious before the incident. The 39-year-old's actions will likely result in disciplinary action from the PGA Tour, and he'll need to replace his putter before his next tournament appearance.
The PGA Tour has since removed most videos of the incident from social media, though the moment generated significant attention for the Valspar Championship.