Cabrera’s putter key to Open chances

Angel Cabrera waves his putter after winning the 2007 U.S. Open.

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ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – One would think Angel Cabrera would be a great pick at this week’s British Open at St. Andrews.

He’s a solid ballstriker who is very experienced in Europe and has won around the globe. The man already owns two majors, winning both in the last three-plus years.

If it’s windy at the Old Course – gee, you think? – one would think it would only help his chances.

The key with Cabrera, though, will be his putting. He’s hitting the ball fine, but he has struggled to get the ball in the hole, ranking 116th on Tour in putting.

With the exception of a third-place finish at Quail Hollow, he’s had a dismal season. After starting the season with a T-10 against a limited field at Kapalua, he’s posted only one top 20 outside of his success at Charlotte.

Cabrera has been using a 38.5-inch mid-length putter from Ping, but this week company reps made him three new ones from which to choose, all at 37 inches. Late Tuesday afternoon, he was using none of the three, instead opting for a putter of conventional length.

Cabrera’s looking to turn over a new leaf at St. Andrews. In 2000, he shot 74-72 and missed the cut for the first time at the Open, and in 2005, he missed the grade again, shooting 75-74. He’ll play with Paul Casey and Rickie Fowler at 1:31 on Thursday.