The putter that brought a golfer and his caddie together creating “The Power of ONE !”

Books have been written about the bond between a golfer his caddie.  Tiger and Stevie.  Faldo and Fanny.  Furyk and Fluff.  Jack and Angelo.  Trevino and Herman.

Such a bond exists between Anthony Griggs, an amateur golfer who is competitive to the core and Larry Vinson, his caddie who also serves as his business manager and public relations representative. 

Griggs wants to prove to the golfing world that he can win sanctioned golf tournaments on championship golf courses using only a putter.  Vinson, the caddie, is there to keep his golfer focused; Vinson, the manager/PR rep, is there to showcase the entertainment value of Griggs uncanny ability to play every shot necessary to compete in tournament golf with his putter. 

Vinson says, “Anthony has a smooth golf swing.  He is a natural.  Completely self-taught.  He is a championship caliber golfer who has won eight tournaments using only his 8801 Wilson Putter.  Through hours of practice on the range and sand bunkers he now has all the shots.  He calls his bunker shots ‘Toe Jam’.”

The Lone Ranger and Tonto tale began about five years ago when Larry, a starter at Superstition Springs Golf Club, noticed a golfer with a great golf swing.  With a never-met-a-stranger attitude Vinson introduced himself to Anthony Griggs who was hitting range balls… with a putter.

“Why are you hitting balls with your putter,” Vinson questioned.

“I got bored using 14 clubs.  Hitting every shot with a putter makes me concentrate and focus.  I want to prove that I can win golf tournaments with only my putter.  I believe that I can beat anybody in the world if we both play with just a putter.”

“Could I be your caddie?” Vinson asked, after Anthony demonstrated that he indeed had all the shots.

“No one ever asked if they could be my caddie,” the surprised Griggs said.  “Yes, you may be my caddie.”

The Power of One!

During the interview for this story, Vinson explained that retired Army Colonel Anthony Griggs suffers from PTSD and sometimes loses focus.

Griggs piped in saying, “Yesterday is gone!  Tomorrow is not promised.  All I have is today.  Larry keeps me in the moment.”

“When he needs help, I tell him, ‘”You hit that ball right and it will go in the hole’” Vinson stated.  “In those moments, we become one!  We call it the Power of One!”

Wilson Staff 8801 Putter

Anthony related how he started using the 8801 Putter.  “I was warming up prior to a round and the head broke off my Scottie Cameron putter.  There was a Good Will store nearby and I went there looking for a putter.  They had only one, the 8801, I paid $2.99 for it and have been using it ever since.  I like the square toe.  I hit a lot of shots off the toe of the putter.”

The challenges have been many for Anthony and Larry as they seek acceptance on the competitive golf scene.  Acceptance is difficult in the sometimes-stuffy golf community.  “When two retired black guys walk up to the first tee at a golf tournament with one club, a putter, in a small custom-made golf bag, called a “caddie carrier” they never take us seriously,” Anthony says.  “I always play golf to beat every player in my foursome.  When I get a guy with an attitude, I want to beat him even more.”

“We were playing in a big tournament in Tucson, you know, caddie vests with the players name on them and everything,” Larry said.  “We were introduced and one of the guys said, ‘I am not playing with a guy who only used a putter.’  After a little discussion he said, ‘maybe I will play a hole or two.’  He played the entire 18 holes.  He was very complementary – when Anthony beat him by four strokes.”

Anthony felt the rejection when he shot 68 at Supervision Springs.  “Larry had the scorecard witnessed and we took the card into the pro shop.  Larry said, ‘we should post this on the bulletin board, this is the course record at Supervision Springs playing only with a putter.’  The pro glanced at the score card and flipped it into the trash.”

USGA rules are also working against Anthony.  In a big tournament Anthony hit his ball into the penalty area.  He methodically measured the two club drop area when a competitor said, “That is not a legal drop.  USGA rules do not allow a golfer to use his putter to determine a drop area.” 

Using the Power of One, two brave golf warriors continue to attempt to win golf championships with only a putter.  Larry is working on finding a sponsor to set up exhibitions where Anthony would play matches against great local players with only his 8801 Putter.  Stay tuned!

To check out a video of Anthony visit YouTube and search Anthony Griggs Golf.