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Short game problems issue for Todd Hamilton
British Open champion Todd Hamilton blames his short game for the disappointing form he has produced since his shock victory at Troon 12 months ago.
The American, who begins his title defence on Thursday, has not won a tournament since, struggling particularly on and around the greens.
"Usually, I rely a lot on my short game but my putting has been poor," Hamilton told a news conference on Wednesday.
"It has always been a strength of mine but that would be the main reason I haven't been able to shoot enough low scores."
The 39-year-old Hamilton, paired with South African Retief Goosen and Briton Lee Westwood for the first two rounds at St Andrews, said he had struggled to cope with the pressures of being Open champion.
"The first three or four months after the tournament were very difficult," he said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well and maybe that has something to do with it.
"I thought the success I had would give me a lot of confidence to go on and do bigger and better things but that hasn't been the case yet.
"I haven't played poorly but it seems like when I'm driving the ball well my iron shots are not so good and when I'm hitting good irons I can't hole any putts."
Hamilton says winning the Open has not changed his life much, though enjoys being able to concentrate on playing in the U.S. after years on the Japanese and Asian tours.
"I do get recognised a little bit more in unlikely places and I don't have to travel so much any more because of the exemptions," he said.
"I haven't bought too many new things but my wife did get a new Mercedes."
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