13th Mar 2012 | Golf
Transitions Championship Tips: Pat Perez
Putting has massively improved since switching to a belly putter. Yet to miss a cut this year.
Sitting 46th in the FedEx Cup standings, Pat Perez arrives in Florida playing some excellent golf. Yet to miss a cut this season, he shows up on the back of a T13 at the Northern Trust Open. He was one shot off the lead going into the final round at Riviera but faltered on the Sunday.
The real improvement in his game surrounds his putting. Since switching to a belly putter he has moved up to 37th for strokes gained putting, compared to 71st last year.
“I’ve putted great. Ever since changing to the belly putter [it] has changed everything for me,” said Perez when speaking to pgatour.com at the Northern Trust Open.
The rest of his game is also in fine fettle. He ranks 24th for birdie average and 28th for scrambling, measures that have dovetailed with his new-found putting confidence.
His record at Copperhead isn’t so great, with three missed cuts in a row. However, he did finish T14 back in 2007, proving he can play the course. If the wind gets up, his chances could increase further. His low ball flight proved a valuable asset in the wind at Riviera and the tougher the conditions the better.
Pat Perez is overpriced at 125/1 (bodog); back him each way with ¼ odds for a top-six finish.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 11:33 13th Mar, 2012 but subject to change
