Vintage Invitational Senior Golf Tournament : Odd Putter Helps Moody Open a 4-Stroke Lead

Orville Moody is predicting a run on three-sided putters with 50-inch shafts.

Moody, one of the worst putters ever to win the U.S. Open, has become one of the hottest putters on the PGA Seniors Tour and he gives credit to the odd-looking putter known as a Taylor Railer.

Moody, shooting a six-under-par 66 on the Mountain course at Vintage Country Club Friday for a tour-record-tying 36-hole total of 130, leads the Vintage Chrysler Invitational by four strokes over Larry Mowry, with Al Geiberger another two shots further behind. The 14-under-par score for 36 holes ties the mark achieved by three other seniors--Don January, Jim Ferree and Lee Elder.

Moody, who shot a 64 Thursday on the Desert course, has made 14 birdies, 2 eagles and 4 bogeys in 2 rounds, and it’s all due to his putting. He made the shaft 50 inches long by putting the shafts of two 2-irons into the regular shaft. He uses the left hand on top of the shaft to steady the club and does the putting with his right hand, which is a foot or so lower on the shaft.

It is similar to the club that Charlie Owens introduced to the tour seven years ago, except that Moody’s three-sided base has been scientifically balanced so that a putt can be struck on the toe and will still go in.

“Mark my word, people will flock to buy this putter after they see what I can do with it,” Moody said. “I tried every method, grip, type of putter and stance, but I couldn’t putt.

“I actually hated to play golf. It was so discouraging to hit the ball so well from tee to green and then mess up on the green. When I did sink putts, they barely dropped.

“There were so many times I looked back and realized that if I could just putt, I could have won so many tournaments. As it is, I won only the Open in 1969 and the World Series of Golf the same year.

“Things were a little better out here, ‘cause I won some tournaments after becoming 50 in December 1983. But I still had the putting yips.”

Even after he switched to the putter with the rails at either end of the face, he wasn’t an instant success.

“First, I decided it needed to be longer,” he said. “So, I sank a 2-iron shaft into the regular shaft. That wasn’t long enough, so I sank another one, giving me two 2-iron shafts in the regular shaft.

“For about 18 months, I experimented with grips and stances. Finally, late last year, my putting came around. I’m convinced it’s a matter of confidence. I don’t care what club or style, the one that gives you confidence is the only thing that counts. I don’t think it’s possible to teach putting.”

On his way to the 66 and the four-shot lead at the halfway point, Moody sank putts of 25 feet, 20 feet, two from 15 feet and a number of shorter ones. He also missed a pair of 5-footers and a 6-footer.

The last two rounds in the 72-hole event will be played on the 6,900-yard Mountain course, and Moody thinks that unless the wind comes up, he will continue to play well.

Mowry, just as he said he would, improved on the Mountain course. He shot a 66 for a total of 134. Geiberger shot a three-under-par 69 on the Desert course for a 136.

“No matter what happens, I have a love affair with the Mountain course,” Mowry said. “I can’t help it if Orville shoots 30 under. I’m having a wonderful time. I’ll just keep on being aggressive and hope for the best.”

Geiberger, a rookie on the PGA Seniors Tour, said that playing the first two rounds with amateurs calls for patience.

“I wish I was a better coach but when I saw my team sinking out there today, I couldn’t do anything about it,” he said. “It will be different tomorrow; we’ll be running. It will take 4 hours, while it took 5 hours 20 minutes today.”

It also gets under way considerably earlier. Because it is being televised nationally by ABC, the first group tees off at 6:30 this morning.

Charlie Sifford and Bob Toski go into the final round of the Vantage Super Seniors portion of the tournament tied at 141. First prize in the field of 11 golfers 60 or over is $7,100. Then, the player can add to his money total by doing well in the overall tournament, which concludes Sunday.

“I wasn’t even thinking Super Seniors,” said the 61-year-old Toski, who looked worn out after a six-hour round. “I was thinking in terms of the Seniors Tour. I wanted to shoot a 67 or 68 and shoot for a top-five finish.

“Physically, I can do the job, but mentally, I can’t. After I make a birdie or two, I get protective.

“I’m not concerned with winning the Super. That would be fine, but I’m seeking a top 10 in the other division.”

Sifford, who shot a 69 Thursday, started on the back nine on the Desert course Friday, shooting a four-under-par 32 to go seven under. However, Sifford, 63, also spent six hours on the course and wound up with a 72.