X
Thesefiveplayershadit,
and areconsideredamong
the bestputtersofall-time
X-FACTOR
BRAD
FAXON
ThemanwhorecentlyadvisedRoryonhis
strokeoncehadthebestputtingseasonever,
averaging1.704puttsperGIRin2000.When
Faxonputtstherearenotechnicalthoughts;
hecreatesapictureinhismindandusesthat
imagetotellhisbodywhatitneedstodoto
turnthatputtintoareality.“It’salmostlike
Istartmystrokebeforemyeyesgetbackto
theball”,hesays.RorysaidFaxonhelpedhim
getbacktoachild’smentalityofputtingwith
instinct,insteadofgettingtootechnical.
Whatmakeshimspecial:Faxonisavery
target-orientedputter,whichisoneof
thereasonsRory,whoputtsinasimilar
point-and-shootstyle,soughthisadvice.
BEN
CRENSHAW
Crenshaw’slifelongteacher,HarveyPenick,
taughttheTexantoputtwithasmooth,
eortlessstroke—theperfectmechanicsto
mastereventhespeediestofgreens,especially
thoseatAugustaNational,whereCrenshaw
wontwice.Inhis 1995 Masterswin,Crenshaw
didn’tthree-puttallweekonsomeoftrickiest
greensintheworld.
Whatmakeshimspecial:Thesecretto
greatputting,Crenshawsaid,washoldingthe
puttersolooselythatitallowedtheputterhead
to“drift”behindthehandsonthebackswing.
ItwasatipgoodenoughforTigerWoods,who
added:“Itloosenedupmyhandsandletthe
weightoftheputterheadhittheball.”
TIGER
WOODS
Inhispeak,Tigernevermissedamust-make
putt...oratleastthat’showitseemed.Here’s
onestatthatsumsitup;from 2004 to2008,
Tiger’saveragedistanceofputtsmade(total
distanceofputtsholedduringatournament)
wassixfeetbetterthantheTour’saverage...
SIXFEET!
Whatmakeshimspecial:Woods’set-upis
fundamentallyperfectwitheverythingsquare,
especiallyhisforearmsandtheshaft–itlooks
likethey’repartofone,extendedline.
LOREN
ROBERTS
Nicknamed ‘The Boss of the Moss’ in his
prime, Roberts’ putting stroke was widely
envied in the 1980s and 1990s. During 14
years on Tour, Roberts took 56,457 putts
in 1,996 career rounds; an average of 28.3.
Putter maker Sean Toulon says Roberts is the
best he’s ever worked with.
What makes him special: Roberts once
o ered a great visual clue if you’re struggling
with your putting. “Your putter’s shaft is
a pencil, and all you’re trying to do is draw
a line on the green to your target.” Sounds
simple enough.
JACK
NICKLAUS
“I’m one of the greatest two-putters,” Nicklaus
once said of his ability to get the ball in the hole.
But when the chips were down, few were better.
He one-putted six of the fi nal nine greens at the
1986 Masters to come from eight shots back to
claim his record-setting 18th Major at 46.
What makes him special: Nicklaus had
a very repeatable stroke, his head very still,
and left arm and shoulder locked; he simply
pushed the ball to the hole with his right palm
and forearm.
PLAYING
CAREER
1973-2018
PLAYING
CAREER
1983-PRESENT
PLAYING
CAREER
1961-2005
PLAYING
CAREER
1996-PRESENT
PLAYING
CAREER
1981-PRESENT
golf australia | AUGUST 2019 69