Overnight, the trending topic evolved from Matt Every puffer to Matt Every putter. Well, there’s Jeff Maggert, too.
They share the lead heading into today’s final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii, Maggert the veteran and Every the young pro, two strokes ahead of Johnson Wagner, Charles Howell III and Brendan de Jonge.
Every deserves plenty of credit for staying on top after a controversial interview following Friday’s round. He came across as unrepentant for a three-month suspension from the tour in 2010.
The 28-year-old wasn’t really ambushed by the Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghman on Friday, as some seem to think. But Every could have handled things a bit smoother — it’s sad, but in big-time sports, honesty from athletes isn’t always appreciated. Even if it is true, like Every said, that "worse things" happen on tour than being arrested for possession of marijuana (the charge against Every was dropped, and he claims not to be a pot smoker).
It’s the kind of issue that gets shrugged off if it’s addressed deftly, but could linger if it isn’t. And it wasn’t.
But Saturday was a new day. Forget for a moment what Every said with his mouth and think about the statement he made with his clubs Saturday. After a restless night, at least partly caused by Friday’s controversy, Early went out and shot a third-consecutive round in the 60s to remain atop the leaderboard. It’s unflappability as much as talent that wins golf tournaments. So don’t count him out, although the gritty Maggert — whose history in this tournament goes back more than two decades to when it was sponsored by United Airlines — has scored better each succeeding day and fired a day’s best 64 on Saturday.
The players aren’t familiar with each other, and Maggert said he has yet to see Every’s bizarre-looking putter; it has the most oversized head for its body since ET.
In 2010 we had wedgegate, and some tour players have been bellying up to their putters for years. But this is totally different.
"I wouldn’t be doing the putter justice if I explained it to you. … I know that it works for me," said Every, who is tied for ninth in the tournament with 27.3 putts per round. "It’s called the Blackhawk. I’d say it just looks like a rectangle."
Every’s fat stick generated plenty of tweets. Golf World magazine contributor Dave Shedloski produced some of the best. Like this: "… reminds me of Tom Dempsey’s shoe. But how does it do from 63 yards?"
Our photographer Jamm Aquino points out that it would look like a bar of bouillon if properly spray-painted. Every doesn’t seem the flashy type, but if he has a golden round today, why not? Oh yeah, this is golf. But it would make people forget all about that other thing.
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.
