Is Winning or Losing in Golf in the Putting?

Two golf tournaments ran simultaneously recently, the Quicken Loans National and the U.S. Senior Open - for both winners, it all boiled down to putting skills.

Both Francesco Molinari and David Toms were rolling phenomenal putts; Molinari's 50-footer for eagle at the 10th hole made putting look easy.

The AP article on PGA Tour website said about Toms, "On a course where the greens perplexed the entire field for four straight days, Toms rolled in a 15-footer for a go-ahead birdie on No. 16, then coaxed in a downhill, 20-foot slider to save par after driving into a fairway bunker on the 530-yard, par-4 17th." 

In a previous Golf for Beginners blog, we discussed Golf Shots You Need To Practice to Score Low; golf gurus such as Ben Hogan thought the tee shot was the most important while "PGAProfessional " thought that putting was of top priority. After both tournaments, I think we can concur that, without a solid putting game, most golfers can not score low.

Using Tiger Woods' performance at The National as an example, although a tie for 4th place is worthy of accolades, his inconsistent putting game is what stopped him from gaining momentum...you just can't miss four-footers! As Tiger concurred after his defeat, "Those are things I can't afford to do and expect to win a golf tournament."

David Toms is 5th in putting average on the Champions Tour with a 1.734 putting average while Molinari's putts per greens-in-regulation are at 1.8...similar statistics gaining similar results although, as GolfWorld states, "putting has kept him from raising a few trophies in America previously", further provides evidence that it is the flat stick which wins tournaments.

So, how can the average player putt to win against his or her mates? Golf for Beginners have a few putting tips:

In the blog, "Easy Golf Tips to Inspire Confidence on the Putting Green", the one golf tip which resonates is that "touch is one thing very good putters have in common. Touch is the core ingredient for long-term success."

And, as a simple reminder from Tom Watson's book "Getting Up and Down", "Aim the putter, then align your body. Just like a golfer sets up at the tee box, the same is true when standing over a putt. Proper set-up is the beginning of a solid putt."

We encourage you to add to golf putting tips in the comments section below and tag us with your tips on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Photo by tyler hendy from Pexels

Battle of the Sexes Golf Debate: Do #girlsgolfbetter or do #boysgolfbetter?

Can a man who has played on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour beat a current LPGA Tour sensation? An age-old "Battle of the Sexes" match has just been announced between CBS Sports Commentator Gary McCord and the "Pink Panther" of golf, Paula Creamer, to determine if #girlsgolfbetter or if #boysgolfbetter.

 

 

Forsgate Country Club will host head-to-head stroke play on its premier Banks Course and has called in David Feherty to add his colorful, irreverent analysis to this quirky golf match-up between a 64-year old who went 0 for 422 in PGA Tour event wins and a girl more than half his age who is a major tournament winner currently ranked thirteenth in the world.

 

Feherty remarked, "Battle of the Sexes? It's more like Beauty versus the Beast. My money is with Paula...plus I love pink."

 

Creamer queried, "I'm playing against Gary McCord? You mean the CBS Commentator? I didn't event realize he played golf! Wow...you learn something new every day."

 

McCord jabbed back, "Beating Paula will be fun and another win in my already memorable career."

The real challenge for the two golfers especially McCord, in my opinion, is that they will be hitting from the same tees. Does McCord have the sharper irons and short game needed to restrain The Pink Panther?

Expect more trash talking from Gary as this Battle of the Sexes gets closer to event date. McCord is not one to mince words which has ultimately made him persona-non-grata at The Masters to which Gary eloquently stated that he could give a s**t if the Masters ever invites him back and that the divorce has worked out famously for all concerned.

 

Although much of the taunting is pure fun, there is an edge to this quirky one-on-one, remembering back to the Billie Jean King/Bobby Riggs televised tennis matches in 1973 where a boastful, and much older, Riggs masterfully promoted the sport as well as his own abilities while demeaning King and all other women. The spectacle struck a nerve throughout the country and the term "Battle of the Sexes" was coined.

 

This isn't the first Battle of the Sexes event held at Forsgate Country Club although it seems to be the oddest pairing.

 

Annika Sorenstam played golf against PGA Tour pro J.B. Holmes and went up against  Brad Faxon in a similar May-September golf event @ForsgateCC but, in every match the winner is always the same, namely charity beneficiaries of The Forsgate Foundation, a non-profit organization that has donated over $400,000 to worthwhile organizations since 2003. This year's beneficiary is the Make-A-Wish Foundation which grants wishes of children with life threatening illnesses.

 

Forsgate Country Club will host two days of golf and entertainment beginning on Saturday, October 6th where Creamer will first come face-to-face with McCord, hopefully without too much blood shed nor too many epithets tossed about ;-)

 

For more information visit either Forsgate Country Club, ForsgateFoundation or call (732) 656-8911.

 

 

So, whose team are you on? Pick your winner using the hastag #girlsgolfbetter if you are rooting for Paula Creamer or #boysgolfbetter if you think Gary McCord will cream the Pink Panther. For me it's #girlsgolfbetter...go Paula and use her Twitter handle too, @ThePCreamer!

 

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend on Facebook.

 

 

Posted via email from stacysolomon's posterous