Putting speed under pressure

[Lifter]

I just watched the replays of the putts Furyk missed on 18 and Stricker missed on 17. The key fact of them both is that both putts were hit too hard. When you hit a putt too hard, the hole becomes much smaller and a lipout becomes much more probable. Especially when you're playing on fast greens at the Ryder Cup. Speed is all-important.

 

[Lindsey Newman]

I just watched the replays of the putts Furyk missed on 18 and Stricker missed on 17. The key fact of them both is that both putts were hit too hard. When you hit a putt too hard, the hole becomes much smaller and a lipout becomes much more probable. Especially when you're playing on fast greens at the Ryder Cup. Speed is all-important.

And that's why "first in" rules in match play.

 

[Ringer]

Furyk let nerves get to him on 17 and 18. He took WAY longer than his typical amount of time to look over the putt and tap it.

 

[BIGBALL]

Furyk let nerves get to him on 17 and 18. He took WAY longer than his typical amount of time to look over the putt and tap it.

Absolutely - I was yelling at the TV - "Just hit the damned putt" lol. I knew he had no chance taking that long. A guy who has struggled down the stretch of tournaments this year + a BIG putt to help the U.S hold on = that result. I like Furyk, and felt absolutely horrible for him.

 

[Lifter]

I just watched the replays of the putts Furyk missed on 18 and Stricker missed on 17. The key fact of them both is that both putts were hit too hard. When you hit a putt too hard, the hole becomes much smaller and a lipout becomes much more probable. Especially when you're playing on fast greens at the Ryder Cup. Speed is all-important.

I need to amend this. I watched Furyk's putt on 18 one more time and he did not hit it too hard. It barely lipped past the hole. He arguably hit a good putt on the pro side and it just didn't move. Now I feel a lot worse for Furyk.

Stricker's, on the other hand, didn't move because he hit it too hard.

 

[DCgolf]

I want someone to tell me how to putt with good speed under that kind of pressure. Furyk took a while, I'd still be there!

 

[mgranato]

I want someone to tell me how to putt with good speed under that kind of pressure. Furyk took a while, I'd still be there!

For pressure putts, I've compiled a helpful check list over the years that I’ve condensed into a short simple little thought I tell myself on the back swing of every putt…

Keep your head down, play your own game, immerse yourself in the process, breathe, hope you stuck to your pre-shot routine, take one shot at a time, see the putt going in, believe in yourself, speed kills, rock your shoulders, paint the stroke with your wrists, don't worry about the outcome, try to make every putt you stand over, feel the slope under your feet, every putt is a straight putt, take the break out, die it over the edge, see the line, hurry up your almost to the ball, relax.

 

[birly-shirly]

Nice. Do you repeat that over and over until you feel confident and ready to hole that sucker? Or do you just speed up your routine to get it over with, ahem, I mean react to the target?

 

[mgranato]

Entirely dependent on the consequences.

 

[birly-shirly]

 

[BIGBALL]

For pressure putts, I've compiled a helpful check list over the years that I’ve condensed into a short simple little thought I tell myself on the back swing of every putt…

Keep your head down, play your own game, immerse yourself in the process, breathe, hope you stuck to your pre-shot routine, take one shot at a time, see the putt going in, believe in yourself, speed kills, rock your shoulders, paint the stroke with your wrists, don't worry about the outcome, try to make every putt you stand over, feel the slope under your feet, every putt is a straight putt, take the break out, die it over the edge, see the line, hurry up your almost to the ball, relax.

Really - your thinking is that simplified under pressure?!!

 

[mb6606]

I believe the older guys just don't have the nerves like the younger guys and that was extreme pressure!
One thing to lose for yourself another to lose for your team and country.
Other recent short game train wrecks:
Kenny Perry blew it at the 2009 Masters bogeying 17 and 18
Tom Watson at the British 2009 bogeying 18