Golf: Errant putter tires struggling Smail

CHASKA, Minnesota - New Zealand golfer David Smail will store the clubs away for a month after a timid end to the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National today.

He posted a final round of four-over-par 76 to finish 67th equal on 299, 19 shots behind the winner, South Korea's Yang Yong-eun.

Smail walked from the final green breathing a sigh of relief after enduring one of the toughest experiences of his career.

The 39-year-old's closing round contained three birdies, five bogeys and one double bogey.

His outward journey featured three bogeys then he double bogeyed the 12th after approach shot cannoned off a tree and into a water hazard.

The five-time Japan Tour winner and former New Zealand Open champion then produced three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the 13th.

But he then walked from the course after having bogeyed his closing two holes.

"I played on some good tough golf courses coming into the PGA to prepare myself for this, and while it was great to make the cut, it's just been a struggle all week," Smail said.

"All I know now is that I am looking forward to a rest. It's been a pretty tough golf course, and if you are not quite on your game it eats at your confidence.

"I've got a month off and then quite a busy schedule leading up to the end of the season."

Smail struggled to control his putter through the four rounds as he averaged 32 putts per round.

"I just lost confidence today and my putting was so bad that resulted in me losing confidence with my irons shots," Smail said.

"So putting is still a dirty word and I just had no confidence in the putter from any distance."

Smail's next assignment is the ANA Open in Japan starting on September 24.

- NZPA