Sergio’s latest technique to improve his putting is quite out there
By Alex Perry
Sergio Garcia has adopted a rather unusual approach for draining birdie putts. But, he explains, he’s done it before on an even grander stage
Sergio Garcia is a highly-trained professional. Please do not try this at home. Or, indeed, on a golf course.
Garcia putted WITH HIS EYES CLOSED during the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Though surprising, it was a natural progression for the Spaniard, who has tried everything down the years to improve his fortunes on the greens. You can’t help but feel he’s like one bad round away from trying side-saddle.
Here’s a clip from Friday’s second round…
It’s certainly worked for Garcia, who drained 22 birdies and an eagle en route to his 11th PGA Tour title, and first since the 2017 Masters.
But that’s not all. Garcia explained after the round that it’s not even new and he’s been doing it for three years.
Now if you’re a maths whizz you’ll know that takes us back to – well, you’re already one step ahead of me, aren’t you?
“I’ve gone on and off,” he said. “But at Augusta, I won it playing with my eyes closed for every single putt.”
Yes. He won the Masters, on a golf course that has made some of the world’s best putters desintergrate into a weeping mess, with his eyes closed.
Garcia, who fell outside of the world’s top 50 for the first time in a decade this week, explained why he does it.
“I feel like it gives me a little more freedom to feel the stroke. Sometimes we get too focused on trying to make it perfect and following with the eyes and everything.
“So this way I just feel it and I just let my natural ability take over instead of telling myself what to do [and] just trying to keep the stroke very smooth.
“The feeling overall is very positive.”
So has this been incorporated by tour pros before? A quick Google suggests it has. Johnny Miller won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 1994 with this technique, as did Lexi Thompson during her LPGA win in Thailand four years ago.
If you’re brave enough to try it in your weekend roll-up, be sure to let us know how you get on.
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Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
