[Kim Maengnyeong's Golf English Conversation] "Woods' Amateur Side Putting?"

Tiger Woods made a "4-putt double bogey" on the 13th hole during the third day of the Genesis Invitational due to an amateur side putting mistake.

Putting is difficult.

The 'resurrected golf emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) became a topic on the 16th at the Pacific Palisades Riviera Golf Course in California (par 71, 7,322 yards) during the third day of the PGA Tour Genesis Invitational (total prize money $9.3 million) with a '4-putt' on the 13th hole (par 4). On a 5.5m birdie chance, his first putt passed the hole by about 60cm. He missed the par putt and even the 90cm bogey putt missed the hole.

It eventually resulted in a double bogey. Interestingly, Woods also made a '4-putt' on this hole during the third round of this tournament in 2000. He bowed his head saying, "I just couldn't find my putting feel" and "I couldn't see the putting line." Experts pointed out that the world star with 82 career wins including 15 major championships looked like an ordinary weekend golfer (It's not often a 15-time major champion looks like the common weekend hacker).

Woods faced a side downhill slope on the hole, making it difficult to finish with a single putt. The problem was that the ball was aimed at the amateur side below the hole, not the pro side above the hole. The most difficult putt in golf is when the ball is on the downhill side of the hole. If you putt below the hole here, you can never make it. This is why pros or low handicappers putt on the pro side.

However, beginners and intermediate players aim at the center or below the hole. Also, lacking confidence and feeling nervous, they often make hesitant putts. The pro side has a higher chance of holing out and the next putt is also easier. It is also called the Professional side. The amateur side, on the other hand, causes the ball to flow below the hole, making it impossible to hole out. It is also called the Sucker's side.

A: Is this a downhill putt?

B: Yes, it's a downhill slope.

A: Where is the break?

B: I think it breaks to the left.

A: That makes me a little nervous.

B: Just aim for the pro side and concentrate.

Written by Kim Maengnyeong, Golf Columnist