Putting for professionals is probably 40 percent of the game, but amateurs it’s about 30 percent. That’s why us pros spend a lot of time on the putting green doing drills. Being good from the tee to green obviously helps, but putting is going to give you the glory. You have to hole putts to win golf tournaments.
On a 10 foot putt, the start line is very important. You need to know exactly the break. For this, I come behind the ball and look down the hole before walking around the putt. It’s very important to assess the putt from the side to see what the grain is doing. Then, I go back and choose exactly the line I want.
The next point is it’s crucial to have a point three foot in front which you want the ball to cross over. I go six foot behind the putt, concentrate on the point I’ve identified, then step into the putt and I’m ready to go. All I need to do now is make sure the putter is on line with the marking on the ball, and then I’ll hit.
Another important things I want you to remember when you’re next reading a putt is to look at the whole green. It’s important to see what the putting surface is doing, this should help you identify the break on your putt a bit better. Assessing the putt from all angles like this is essential.
Did you know?
The Spaniard is playing in his 17th full season on the DP World Tour, where he has racked up over 50 top ten finishes alongside his nine wins. In that time, he’s been one of the most consistent putters on the European-based circuit. In fact, last year he had one his best years on the greens statistically. He ranked inside the top ten for both putts per greens in regulation (1.73) and average putts per round (28.1).
