Bent on Losing : Colandro Is Disqualified in Australia After Using Putter He Angrily Damaged

American Mike Colandro, who had a share of the lead for a while, got so angry at himself for missing a birdie putt that he bent his putter over his knee and was disqualified from the $1 million Palm Meadows Cup on Saturday.

Colandro’s troubles began with a double bogey on the sixth hole. He then bogeyed the seventh, and when he missed the birdie putt on the ninth, he vented his frustration by bending the club over his knee. He used the damaged club to tap in, which violated golfing rules and put him out of the tournament.

Colandro got the bad news while playing the 12th hole, and stalked off to the locker room, refusing to be interviewed.

Colandro has been seeing a Melbourne sports psychologist to help control his temper. After he shot a 66 in the opening round, Colandro said he had his temper under control, giving credit to 15 minutes of daily meditation.

Australian Lyndsay Stephen leads with a 54-hole score of 207 after a 70 in the third round. One stroke back are American Michael Bradley, Grant Waite of New Zealand and Australian Rodger Davis, who chipped in for an eagle on the final hole for a 67.