US Open golf: Frustrated Willett left with broken putter

A closing 71 left the 28-year-old on nine over par alongside Argentina’s Angel Cabrera, who was five over par in winning the US Open at Oakmont in 2007.

“Unfortunately it’s now in two pieces,” said Willett, whose patience ran out in the closing stages of Saturday’s third round of 73. “We’ll have to get it refurbed and then I won’t be using it again.

“The putter has been bad all week, just a bad week really on the greens. They’re tricky to read, tricky to keep the pace and line the same.

“Luckily enough I did (have a spare putter) this week. I’ve been doing a little bit of work at home and it’s not quite been spot on. Paul Hurrion (putting coach) was out this week trying to get a bit of work done.

“It was a week that could have been pretty good. I think we had 33, 35, and 33 putts the first three days. It’s not really going to put you anywhere near contention with that amount of putts on this golf course.”