choosing a putter is "the decision within a decision."

Today, Jones would be facing these decisions: "Do I go with a standard-length putter and if so, what type? Should I try a heavy putter? What about a belly putter? How about a long (broomstick) putter?"

Jones would probably stick with "Calamity Jane" but undoubtedly he would be surprised at his options.

Webb Simpson, 26, won twice last year with a belly putter and even Phil Mickelson, one of the best short-game players in history, used a belly putter for a few rounds in competition late in the year.

Golf Digest quoted Mickelson as Callaway Razr X Tour irons saying, "You can't miss. I mean, you really can't miss from six feet." Mickelson, however, went back to his traditional putter.

In a three-week span, PGA Tour winners were Adam Scott, whose career was resurrected with a long putter, Bradley (belly) and Simpson (belly).

The main advantages of belly putters and the longer broomstick putter is that the club is anchored against the body so wrist action is minimized. The main disadvantages are reduced feel and more difficulty controlling distance.

A conventional putter is generally 30 to 36 inches long. A belly putter is 41 to 44 inches. And a long putter is 48 to 52 inches

A heavy putter is about twice the weight of a regular putter. It's easier to have a good pendulum stroke and good Ping K15 Driver tempo with a heavy putter because the club does a lot of the work on its own. The heavy putter has advantages on short putts, but distance-control problems are common.

Jeff Coston, the Blaine teaching pro who has won the most Northwest majors, said, "I believe in 10 years at least half the golfers in the world will be using a belly putter. It's just an easier way to putt. It almost strokes for you."

The long putter was on full display in discount golf clubs Seattle in 2010 when Bernhard Langer used one to win both the U.S. Senior Open and the Boeing Classic.

So what should the recreational golfer do when he thinks he might putt better by switching to a different style of putter?

Coston recommends either the belly putter or going sidesaddle with a long putter. He also said it is critical to make sure any putter is "the proper length for you."

threaten to construction of the golf course

"If it was important, they would probably bring it up," Hanse said by phone. "We've been selected to do that particular job and we feel comfortable with the time frame that we have."

Hanse said he was not worried, but acknowledged that any changes now could affect the project, which was based entirely on the land under dispute.

"If they decided for whatever reason to make changes, you would have to start all over again," he said. "Our design is specifically for that site. You can't just put it someplace else."

Elmway has won a court battle that was later reversed, but company lawyer Sergio Antunes Lima Jr. says there is "more than enough" evidence available to prove the area belongs to his client.

"My client can do whatever he Mizuno MP-59 Irons wants with the land, I don't think it ever crossed his mind to build a golf course there," Lima Jr. said. "Maybe he will want to negotiate with the city, but we don't know yet."

Elmway Participacoes has been trying to claim ownership of the land for the past three years. The other alleged owner, entrepreneur Pasquale Mauro, has several properties in the region and has won many similar disputes.

"It's a risk that the city, the Olympic committee and the constructors have to evaluate if it's worth taking," said Marcos Rolim Fernandes Fontes, a law professor at the renowned Getulio Vargas University in Sao Paulo. "They are probably very confident that they will win this battle."

Another legal dispute over one of Mauro's lands caused problems for the Brazilian soccer federation a few years ago when it purchased an area from him to build the entity's new headquarters. The delay caused by the dispute at the time made it impossible for the project to be completed before the 2014 World Cup.

It was the first time the city officially recognized there could be an issue involving the land. It had been Titleist 910 D3 Driver dismissing the prospect of a legal dispute and downplaying problems affecting the course.

The city currently has the right to build on the land, but at any time a judge could rule that work can't be done until a final decision on the ownership is reached.

The matter is in the hands of Brazil's Higher Court of Justice. The lawyer from the company disputing the ownership, Elmway Participacoes, says that next week he will ask for the suspension of the city's contracts with the other company that claimed to own the property before it came under the control of the city.

The International Golf Federation said construction on the golf course is expected to start around October, and it should be ready for test events in the beginning of 2015. IGF vice discount golf clubs president Ty Votaw said the federation would not comment on the land dispute because it was a matter handled by the city.

The city said in response to The Associated Press it just became aware of the situation Thursday and is "evaluating the measures it will take."

Golf made its debut at the second modern Olympics in Paris in 1900 but was removed after the 1904 St. Louis Games. It was reinstated in a vote by the International Olympic Committee in 2009 and has a spot guaranteed in 2020, but a good impression in Rio will be critical in keeping the sport in the games beyond that. Another IOC vote on adding or deleting sports is scheduled for 2017.

Barra is where most Olympic venues will be located in 2016. The course is to be built at the Reserva de Marapendi, about 3 miles from the athletes' village and 4 miles from the main press center and the international broadcast center.

Westwood lead in the first round of the Masters

Westwood rattled off four straight birdies for the front side Thursday on the way to a stress-free round of 5-under-par 67 at the Masters, where he's still trying to win his first major championship.

"I've compare," Westwood said. "I've won all there is to win apart from a significant championship. That's my primary focus and been a long time coming around since PGA last year."

One of Westwood's closest calls came couple of years ago at Augusta, when he started the final round using the callaway razr x irons lead. But he earned a three-putt bogey on No. 9 allow it away and found themselves like a bystander while Phil Mickelson was presented his third green jacket.

On this occasion, Westwood heads into Friday which has a one-shot lead on Louis Oosthuizen and a couple in front of a group of six, including Paul Lawrie, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Francesco Molinari.

The Brit, winner of 36 tournaments worldwide, hit 16 greens in regulation after having a light week of practice with a course he's always felt suits his game. He made four birdies consecutively on Nos. 5 through 8 and never needed a putt longer than 10 feet.

"It's nice to obtain off to an excellent start where you can platform to develop from," Westwood said.

He attacked the course over a soft, wet day that seemed suitable for scoring and also included tougher pin placements than usual for any Thursday, together with baseballs muddied after they landed about the saturated fairways.

Ranked third on the planet, Westwood might be the very best Player With out a Major. He has finished in the top three six times since 2008, and it has had the required time to consider what he needs to get over the hump.

"When you have contention and finish it off, you're going home and assess what you didn't do and what you are able improve," he was quoted saying. "And that's what I did."

Bubba Watson, Ben Crane and Jason Dufner were callaway diablo edge irons another players in the tie at 3-under, with Peter Hanson also at that number but nonetheless on the course.

Rory McIlroy shot 1-under 71 and Sergio garcia finished a set of bogeys to shoot even-par 72. The bogey on 18 was an excellent save after his tee shot went to the trees and ended in an unplayable lie.

Woods opened his round by clanking his first tee shot off a tree and putting the second one out of the creek, well left of the second fairway. He salvaged pars on and felt pretty decent concerning the round, with that said.

"I hit many of the worst shots That i've ever hit today," Woods said. "That's OK. I recently hung in there, grinded my way throughout the golf course, stayed patient, stayed inside moment. I could've shot one, maybe two better however got a great deal beyond that round."

Looking for his starting championship because the 2008 U.S. Open, Woods started in playing well. Fourteen days ago, he won his first PGA Tour event in 30 months. But around the driving range before his round, he was quoted saying he felt something creeping high on him.

"Old patterns. A few of my old stuff from the few years ago," he stated. "I'm looking to function with it. From time to time, it appears and after this it popped up again."

Before Westwood closed out his 5 under, it appeared the day's biggest story will be Henrik Stenson, who spent the discount golf clubs majority of the day inside lead and was at 5 under having a two-shot advantage when he stood on the 18th tee box.

He hit that shot deep in to the trees about the left and needed two more shots to succeed in the fairway. A part of an ugly 8 -- a snowman -- that dropped him to 1-under 71 along with a tie for 15th.

Read more Westwood works way up leaderboard at Masters