[Kim Hyunjun's Photo Lesson] Kim Siwoo's '3-Wood Putting'..."The Keyword is Distance Control"

Masters 2nd Round Putter Damage Leads to 4-Hole Wood Putter Use "Stroke Exactly Like Putting"

Kim Si-woo is putting with a 3-wood on the 18th hole during the second round of the Masters.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "The keyword is distance control."

It is Kim Si-woo's (26, CJ Logistics) ‘3-wood putting.’ On the 18th hole (par 4) during the second round of the ‘Masters’ (total prize money $11.5 million) held at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA (par 72, 7,475 yards) on the 12th (Korean time). From the 11th hole (par 4), his ball slightly brushed the hole for four consecutive holes, and on the 15th hole, he struck the putter on the ground once, damaging the putter in the process. He then used the 3-wood to putt the 15th through 18th holes, saving par on all of them.

It is interesting that Kim Si-woo is known as a ‘master of wood putting.’ A representative example is the Players Championship in May 2017, known as the ‘fifth major.’ On the final day, on the 18th hole (par 4) fringe, he left 14 meters and used a wood to get the ball within 1 meter of the hole, securing a three-stroke victory. This time, the only difference was that it was unavoidable. He explained, "It was the first time I took out my frustration on a club on the course," and added, "Sand wedges are not easy to control spin with, so wood is better."

‘Wood putting’ actually involves no special technique. The stroke method is exactly the same as with a putter. The grip is held lower on the shaft, and the top line is aligned with the hole. Considering the loft of the head itself, the impact must be precise. Outside the green, the ball initially bounces and then rolls to a stop. Above all, distance control is crucial. Amateur golfers should develop their own sense of distance according to their usual swing size to be effective in actual play.

When attempting wood putting on the professional golf tour, the ‘anchoring ban’ must be considered. Previously, some players like Adam Scott (Australia) used to anchor the end of the long putter grip against their chin, chest, or navel while putting. The United States Golf Association (USGA) and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) introduced a rule stating that "the club cannot be anchored against the body during the stroke," making this impossible now. When putting with a long-shafted wood, one must be careful not to touch the body.

The same applies to hybrids and long irons. For amateur golfers, wedge putting is actually easier. In areas where different lengths of grass are mixed, such as the fringe, contact the ball near the center with the wedge’s leading edge as if putting. If the grass around the green is short or the ground is hard, a putter is definitely the choice. The focus is on hitting strongly to get the ball onto the green. At the very least, this can prevent careless mishits such as topping or fat shots in wedge shots.