Justin Rose turned up the heat in the final stages of last year’s Race to Dubai with back-to-back victories at the WGC-HSBC Champions and the Turkish Airlines Open. The Ryder Cup star noted that his putting was the key factor at both victories as it turned his usual diligent work from tee to green into results. Here he talks about his putting methods and how it works for him.
“Over the years I’ve continued to work in a lot of areas of my game and putting is absolutely up there at the top because putting is often what translates decent golf into winning golf.
Looking back at those wins in China and Turkey late last year, I would say I putted really well. I was very solid from inside six feet, not giving away many cheap shots, and then making more of my share of 20-footers.
I’ll happily admit that I don’t think about my putting as much as I used to, which is a sign that I must be much more confident at it.
LEARN MORE – GET WORSE?
“Putting is a funny part of the game because sometime the more you learn about it, the worse you can get. I felt like that’s what happened to me for a period of time. I began to learn more. I tried to get better. But in the quest to get better, I got worse. I changed to a claw-style grip over a year ago, so I’ve probably spent enough time using it where it comes naturally. I think I focus a lot more on the skills of putting, rather than the technique of putting. By that, I mean green reading, and then just sort of doing performance drills on the putting green, rather than constant stroke work. So I think that my putting feels a lot more simple in my head.
ALWAYS EVOLVING
“When I look back at the footage of the putt I holed to win in Turkey, my putting stroke looks a lot different to how it was two years ago.
It’s now become my stroke. It’s just happening for me. So the hard work I guess is beginning to pay off.”
PUTTER:
TaylorMade TP Red, Ardmore 2, DB hosel, Lamkin Flat Cap grip
