“A good putter is a match for anyone and a bad putter is a match for no one” (golf adage)
“A good putter is a match for anyone and a bad putter is a match for no one” is an old golf adage that is often credited to American golf coach Harvey Penick (1904-1995), but the saying dates back to before he was born. “As the saying is, ‘the good putter is the match for anybody’” was cited in The Sun (New York, NY) in August 1899. “There is a saying that a good putter is a match for anyone at golf, and it is certainly a truthsome” was cited in 1924.
“There is an old saying that a good putter is a match for anyone and a bad putter is a match for nobody” was cited in Sports Illustrated in December 1955.
Chronicling America
20 August 1899, The Sun (New York, NY), “To Women: Buy Six Clubs,” pg. 4, col. 5:
American women are usually good putters. It is at once the easiest part of the game, and the most important, for, as the saying is, “the good putter is the match for anybody.”
10 July 1921, The Sunday Herald (Boston, MA), “State golf crown again adorns the brow of siege gun” by Larry Paton, pg. 4B, col. 1:
A good putter is a match for anybody, they tell us, and Chase surely is a good putter.
24 October 1924, San Diego (CA) Union, “Chips and Birdies” by Jess Puryear, pg. 14, col. 7:
There is a saying that a good putter is a match for anyone at golf, and it is certainly a truthsome.
Google News Archive
16 January 1935, Sydney (Australia) Mail, pg. 32, col. 1:
It has often been said that a good putter is a match for any player and that matches are won and lost on the greens.
16 April 1942, Lockhart (TX) Post-Register, “Golf Talk” by the Professor, pg. 2, col. 1:
A. Stripling—remember Strip, a good putter is a match for any one—and you are that.
Google Books
On Learning Golf:
A Valuable Guide to Better Golf
By Percy Boomer
New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
1946
Pg. 221:
“A good putter is a match for anyone.” That phrase was popular and accepted as it is now when my great compatriot Harry Vardon was in his prime.
Sports Illustrated
December 12, 1955
For Middle- And High-handicap Golfers
Joe Belfore
There is an old saying that a good putter is a match for anyone and a bad putter is a match for nobody. I propose that the same thing applies equally to a golfer’s ability or inability to play the short pitch shot from 50 yards or less from the hole.
Google Books
The Wisdom of Harvey Penick
By Harvey Penick with Bud Shrake
New York, NY: Simon & Schuster
1997
Pg. 31:
A good putter is a match for anyone. A bad putter is a match for no one.
Google Books
Cindy Reid’s Ultimate Guide to Golf for Women
By Cindy Reid
New York, NY: Atria Books
2003
Pg. 74:
I think the late, great teacher Harvey Penick put it best when he said, “A good putter is a match for any man. A bad putter is a match for no one.”
Sports Illustrated (SI.com)
Lessons learned
Ten points to be made about the British Open
“Inside Golf” by Gary Van Sickle
Posted: Sunday July 23, 2006 3:44PM; Updated: Tuesday July 25, 2006 8:29PM
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Garcia has some serious issues with his short putting. You’ve probably been there yourself. It’s not fun. A good putter is a match for anyone, an old golf saying goes, and a bad putter is a match for no one.