'US Open Champ' Fitzpatrick "Why I Lie Down on the Green"..."I Even Understand the Grain of the Grass"

Bieyas and Reed favor 'Seupaideomaenpa', Wooz uses 'Tunnel Effect', Scott prefers 'Aimpoint Express', Holmes relies on 'Survey Weight Verification'

'US Open champ' Matt Fitzpatrick lies flat on the green to analyze the putting line.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Examining even the grain of the grass."

'US Open Champion' Matt Fitzpatrick (England) lies flat on the ground on the green to analyze the putting path. This is why he earned the nickname 'Spiderman.' 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) utilizes the 'tunnel effect,' Adam Scott (Australia) uses the 'AimPoint Express,' and long hitter J.B. Holmes (USA) even employs the 'Plumb Bobbing' method. We looked into the different ways professional golfers read their putting lines.

▲ Fitzpatrick: "I like being Spiderman" = The original was Camilo Villegas (Colombia). It’s all about the grain of the grass. The grain appears faintly in the normal direction and casts a shadow in the opposite direction. The grain of the grass is crucial in determining success near the hole where the ball’s force weakens. On the opposite grain, the ball tends to stop just short of the hole or roll past it. This is why instructors emphasize the need for a relatively strong putt that hits beyond the hole.

Fitzpatrick’s short game, including approach shots and putting, stood out during his victory at the third major of the season, the US Open, which concluded on the 20th. Among the participants, he ranked first in Strokes Gained Short Game (+5.65 strokes) and 42nd in Putting (+0.23 strokes). It’s worth lying down on the ground for. Patrick Reed (USA) and Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour player Lee Jeong-hwan (31, Mugunghwa Trust) have also joined the 'Spiderman' ranks.

The "Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods uses the "tunnel effect," bending the brim of his cap with both hands to sense the slope.

▲ Woods: "The tunnel effect is comfortable" = Woods looks at the target from behind the ball and bends the brim of his cap with both hands to sense the slope. This is useful for amateur golfers. It excludes surrounding objects, increasing concentration on the putting line. Naturally, from the moment he steps onto the green, he judges the overall slope and studies features like Mountain and Ocean breaks as part of his preparation. He checks the inflection point where the ball curves from the opposite side of the hole and gauges stroke strength.

Scott’s 'AimPoint Express' is a bit more complex. It originated from Stacy Lewis (USA) of the LPGA Tour’s 'Original AimPoint.' The slope is categorized into 0 to 7 levels. From behind the ball, the fingertip is aligned with the center of the hole, and additional fingers are extended according to the degree of left or right slope. Holmes’ 'Plumb Bobbing' method aims the putter shaft so it is perpendicular to the hole. This indicates the direction the ball will curve. If the hole appears to the left of the shaft, it’s a hook line; if to the right, it’s a slice line.

Kevin Kisner is a master of lag putting, known for getting the ball close to the hole on long-distance putts.

▲ Lee Jeong-eun6 and Lee Sang-hee: "Side view is more accurate" = Lee Jeong-eun6 predicts the path by sitting and turning 90 degrees. "A friend I played golf with in high school used this method," she explained, adding, "Now looking straight ahead feels awkward." She also uses the putter when placing the ball. Closing one eye, she carefully aims connecting the hole and the ball. She recommended it, saying, "Stroking from the side during address seems more accurate." Lee Sang-hee (30) joined her.

'Match King' Kevin Kisner (USA) is a master of long-distance putting, known as 'lag putting,' which amateur golfers find most challenging. Usually, on the practice green, he gauges putting strength from different distances such as 5m, 10m, and 15m. The goal is not to hole the ball but to get it within a 1-meter diameter circle centered on the hole to finish in two putts. For amateur golfers, finding the inflection point where the ball curves is important. Walking slowly along the ball’s rolling path, they set an imaginary target.