The golfing world has been set alight with the recent on-course antics of Patton Kizzire during the 2025 Valspar Championship. The 39-year-old PGA Tour professional, who has been struggling with a less than stellar start to his season, made headlines when he kicked his putter across the green in a fit of pique.
Kizzire’s season has been marred by a series of disappointments. Despite seven starts, he has only made it to the weekend once, during the season’s opening event, The Sentry. The pressure seemed to reach a boiling point during the Valspar Championship’s opening round where Kizzire’s performance left much to be desired.
Beginning his round on the back nine, Kizzire was facing an 8-foot par putt on the 16th hole. This was a crucial moment for the golfer who was already 2-over. However, in an unfortunate turn of events, he missed the putt. Reacting impulsively, he sent his putter flying across the green. The impact damaged the putter, leaving Kizzire to complete the hole using his wedge.
The incident wasn’t an isolated one during Kizzire’s round. It marked the third time he missed a putt under 10 feet. Following this, Kizzire made the decision to withdraw from the Championship, citing a lower back injury as reported by Newsweek. It remains unclear if the injury was a result of his emotional outburst.
The repercussions of Kizzire’s tantrum are likely to be felt beyond the immediate damage to his putter. The PGA Tour has policies in place to regulate player behavior, with fines typically imposed for conduct considered ‘unbecoming of a professional.’
However, former major champion Mark Calcavecchia offered his perspective on the situation via social media. Sharing his own experiences with PGA fines, he suggested Kizzire may appeal the fine, possibly blaming a faulty putter or a distracting audience.
In stark contrast to Kizzire’s struggles, several PGA stars have been shining bright at the Valspar Championship. Viktor Hovland and Shane Lowry have surged up the leaderboard, with Hovland leading after 36 holes at the time of reporting.
Kizzire’s dramatic withdrawal from the Valspar Championship serves as a stark reminder of the intense pressure PGA professionals face on the green. It remains to be seen how this incident will impact his standing in the golfing community and his future on the PGA Tour.
