[Putting Variety①] "Closing Eyes vs Staring at the Hole"... Which Is Better?

Garcia Wins Sanderson Farms with 'Eyes-Closed Putting', Spieth Shows 'Dry Putting' by Focusing on the Hole, Not the Ball, in Short Distances

Sergio Garcia revealed right after winning the Sanderson Farms Championship that he experienced great benefits from putting with his eyes closed.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Closing Eyes vs. Watching the Hole"

Sergio Garcia (Spain) made headlines after winning the Sanderson Farms Championship on the PGA Tour last month by revealing that he putted with his eyes closed. He explained that it allowed him to putt with a freer feeling. In fact, he averaged 1.57 putts per hole on the final day. It is interesting that Jordan Spieth (USA) looks at the hole, not the ball, when putting from short distances. Which is better? There is no correct answer. Let's take a look at the diverse styles of putting.

▲ Garcia’s "Putting with Eyes Closed" = Garcia is a player who made waves when he joined the PGA Tour in 1999 at just 19 years old. He gained attention by competing for the title with Tiger Woods (USA) at the Byron Nelson Classic in May and rose to prominence as a 'rival to Woods' by finishing second at the PGA Championship, the 'last major,' in August. In 2000, he highlighted his presence by narrowly defeating Woods by one hole in the high-profile match 'The Duel at Big Horn.'

He accumulated 11 wins in total, including two victories in 2001 at the Mastercard and Buick Classics. However, he had a particularly difficult relationship with majors. In the 2007 Open Championship, he led by three strokes on the final day but lost the title after a playoff with P?draig Harrington (Ireland) due to a bogey on the 18th hole, especially hampered by putting struggles. In the 2008 PGA Championship, he again surrendered the trophy to Harrington after losing two strokes in the last three holes of the final round.

He has finished runner-up four times, including a tie for second at the 2014 Open, and has made the 'top 10' an impressive 22 times. He finally shed the label of "world star without a major win" by winning the Masters in 2017. Garcia introduced his putting style by saying, "I really benefited from putting with my eyes closed," adding that it is even more effective on fast greens. Experts interpret this as meaning that the stroke process makes the same contact regardless of where the eyes are focused.

Jordan Spieth gained attention for his unique routine of putting while focusing on the hole rather than the ball at short distances.

▲ Spieth "Watching the Hole" = Next is Spieth’s unique routine of looking at the hole during short putts within 2 meters. When he won the Masters in 2015, he led with an average of 1.47 putts, achieving a dominant 4-stroke victory at Augusta National Golf Club, known for its fast greens. Throughout the four rounds, he had only three three-putts. Despite ranking 78th in driving distance (291.8 yards), this 'short hitter' rose to the ranks of major champions.

For long putts, Spieth uses a normal stance, but for putts within 2 meters, his gaze is fixed on the hole. Native instructor Pro Choi Myung-ho (52) explained, "Actually, it should be seen as placing the ball on the path connecting the ball and the hole that the player envisions, not just looking at the hole," adding, "Amateur golfers will also benefit from softly pushing the ball toward the hole." He also advised, "However, sufficient practice is necessary to ensure solid contact."

Spieth’s power in 'lag putting,' which involves getting the ball close to the hole from long distances, lies in 'speed.' The degree of curvature varies depending on the strength of the stroke. He sets his own benchmarks at 5m, 10m, and 15m on the practice green. In actual play, he first draws a circle with a radius of about 1 meter around the hole to set a virtual target, then puts so that the next putt will be uphill. For steep slopes, he finds the inflection point where the ball begins to curve.