Dominate on the Greens

TWICE AS NICE

Lydia Ko won Rolex Player of the Year honours for the second time in 2022

Try my two drills to hole more putts By Lydia Ko

statistically, 2022 was perhaps my best season ever on the LPGA Tour. In 22 starts, my scoring average was a career-low 68.99 strokes, and 76 per cent of my rounds (65 of 85) were under par.

Much of my success could be traced to my putter. Through the seasonending CME Group Tour Championship, I led the tour’s strokes gained/ putting (+1.360) and putts per greens in regulation (1.722) stats. Because of my putting ability, I’m frequently asked for pointers, even from other players. I don’t want to give away all of my secrets, but here are two of my go-to drills that I work on before every tournament. If you incorporate these into your regular routine, you’re going to control your line and speed better and hole a lot more putts. Give them a try.

—with madeline macclurg

LYDIA KO, 25, is the youngest winner in LPGA history (age 15). She has 25 global titles, including two majors.

ROLL IT DOWN THE PLANK TO START IT ON LINE

Find a flat putt on the practice green and line up a ruler or similar with the hole. Place the ball down toward the back of the ruler, and hit some putts, trying to keep the ball on the ruler (above) all the way to the end.

What’s happening if you can’t keep it on the ruler for very long? If it drops off to the left, the putter face is closing through impact (for righties). Conversely, if it drops off to the right, the face is opening. This drill is one of my favourites because it gives me instant feedback on my face control. You know if your putts are starting on the line you chose. If you have a sharp eye, you might notice that I alternate between a conventional and lead-handlow grip. I typically use the conventional grip on longer putts because it gives me a greater feel for the length and pace of the stroke needed to hit the ball the required distance.

The lead-hand-low grip gives me more face stability on shorter rolls that require a more precise stroke. In general, I putt with a lead-handlow grip inside 15 feet and switch to the conventional grip outside of that. See if this strategy helps you with lags and holing the short ones. .

My other go-to drill is popular with a lot of tour players because it trains you to make contact with a square face — and start your putts on line — while helping you get a feel for the speed of the greens.

Find a straight putt about six feet from the hole. Next, create a gate a little wider than your putter head on your start line with the ball on the other side of the gate. The goal is to swing the putter head through the gate and then strike the ball — hopefully holing the putt. Keep practising this way and note what’s going on. If your putter hits either of the tees before striking the ball, you know you’re not delivering a square face to the ball. You’re hitting it with a glancing blow, and the ball is starting o line. When you can miss the gate on command, you’re going to have a good day on the greens.