Carlsbad, CA 10/12/2010 8:52:35 PM
News / Sports

New Putting Tournament Will Determine America's Best Putter

The first annual national putting championship of the U.S. Putting Tour, set for September 24-30, 2011 in Carlsbad, California, will determine America's Best Putter, with men and women competing together for the title.

The putting tournament is for amateurs who are at least 13 years of age by September 24, 2011. There is no upper age limit and men and women play together in the only division.

In addition to the national championship, the U.S. Putting Tour will feature local putting events around the country in the 12 months leading up to the finals, at which golfers can qualify for a spot in the championship.

The USPT National Championship features three rounds of putting competition. Golfers can choose which of five days to play their first round, from September 24 through September 28 of USPT Championship Week. Cuts will be made after round one and round two, which will be played on September 29. The number of golfers making each cut will be dependent on the combination of USPT National Championship entries and local qualifiers from USPT qualifying events.

The format will vary from round to round and will include one-putt competition and medal play (total score). In the first two rounds, ties will be broken via card-off from the final hole backwards. In the finals, ties will be broken by a sudden-death playoff. Putts will vary in length from three to 30 feet.

The top finishers in the putting tournament will receive merchandise prizes and certificates in accordance with USGA Amateur Status rules. The top three finishers will receive USPT hardware. The winner also gains the title of "America's Best Putter." The top five finishers will receive automatic free entry into the 2012 USPT National Championship.

Golfers can sign up at USPuttingTour.com.