September Blogspot

FROM MASHIE NIBLICK

It has been a great month for Kiwi golfers Lydia Ko and Danny Lee. Lydia won her first LPGA Major finishing with a final round 63 at the Evian Championship in France, becoming the youngest player in history to win a Major on the LPGA Tour. This added to her World Ranking of Number One on February 20th, the youngest player in the history of the game ( men or women ) to achieve such a feat.

Danny also has had an eye-catching year. So much promise when he joined the professional ranks in 2009, as the youngest ever winner of the United States Amateur, Danny spared no effort in trying to break into the professional ranks. He found it frustrating to make the transition into the pro game even though he had the talent and desire. Consistency week after week eluded him. But 2015 has become his breakthrough year.

His first ever win on the PGA tour,  a 2nd in the Tour Ending Coca Cola Championship behind Jordan Spieth, 8 top ten finishes, 12 top 25 spots and 9th in the Fedex Cup standings. Add a world ranking in the top 50 and approximately $5 million in prize money. Wow!

Both these players have dazzled with their approaches to the green this year and the laser like accuracy of these shots has given them both confidence to be bold putters.

Lydia’s 63 in the final round of the Evian melted the field behind her.

What makes a great putter? Who have been the best of the best. I thought I would do some research. On a very good website golf.swingbyswing.com  – well worth a visit – Don Clements ranks his 10 best of all time. I feel he is spot on.

Here we go.
1. Jack Nicklaus 2. Brad Faxon 3. Nick Faldo 4 Ben Crenshaw 5. Tiger Woods 6. Loren Roberts 7. Seve Ballesteros 8. Bobby Locke 9. Billy Casper. 10. Bob Charles

Pretty good list and nice to see our Sir Bob gets recognition. Bob took his wrists out of the putting stroke. When he began his career most had a more wristy style. He was deadly, even the putts he missed looked as if they were going in. He used a centre shaft putter and was magnificent on the greens right through his playing days and onto the Senior Tour. No yips with Sir Bob. There may be a couple of names on this list you may not be too familiar with, as house hold names.

Loren Roberts, was dubbed Boss of the Moss by the media. Won 8 PGA tour events, a third in the Masters, second in the US Open , 5th in the PGA and 7th in the The Open. His best years were the 1990s and early 2000s. Once past 50, he became a star on the Senior Tour winning the British Senior Open Twice.

The other name on the list Brad Faxon, and his position at # 2, may be a big surprise to many. Voted the outstanding amateur in the United States in 1983, he won 8 times on the tour and played two Ryder Cups.

Not a long hitter of the ball, Brad could putt. A knee injury caused him bother and after a very good senior tour excursion, became a commentator for NBC. He has some very good tips about putting technique, which may help you.

Click on the link below and give your putting a new lease of life from one the world’s greatest putters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzksoM68sOQ

That’s it for this month. May all your putts find gravity

Mashie Niblick