RATTLE BOTTOM
The way I go about things on the green might unlock your game BY DENNY MCCARTHY Putting Perspective
emotional about put- ting. They put a lot of weight on it to save rounds, but if you instead focus on that one little spot, you’re not going to get too emotional.
PICK THE SPOT Focusing on the midpoint of the path to the hole can improve your accuracy.
Once I identify that spot, I point the line on my ball at it, and step in to hit the putt. Sometimes after I address the ball, I might feel the line is too high or low, so I’ll step out and readjust. It’s important to come into the putt with a positive attitude, not questioning the line. Once I’m ready to hit the putt, I’m not thinking about anything mechani- cal. I’m picturing the putt, creating the painting in my mind, painting the ball right into the hole, because . . . I’m gon- na make it. – WITH KEELY LEVINS Denny McCarthy led the PGA Tour in total putting in 2024. He was fourth in strokes gained/putting.
G OOD PUTTING COMES down to attitude. I played basketball all four years of high school. I’m 5-foot-9. While I didn’t look like the most men- acing guy on the court, I became a very effective defensive player because of my attitude more than anything else. I said to myself, This guy isn’t getting by me. That’s the same attitude I bring to each putt. I think, I’m going to make this putt. I don’t care if it’s 70 feet or seven feet, I’m going to make it. That said, I have to read it correctly. I choose my line by creating a painting in my head. I look at the ball and then
the cup, imagining the line the ball will have to travel to get to the hole. Is it up- hill or downhill? Is the wind blowing hard enough to affect the putt? I pay special attention to the halfway point. Sometimes it’s closer, sometimes it’s further, but usually there’s something right around halfway to the hole – like a ball mark or blemish – that the ball will roll over on its way to the cup. I focus on that mark and think, What’s it going to do when it goes over that spot? Will it break? Will it speed up or slow down? That’s my focus point for the putt. It makes things simpler to look at that one spot. People get too
32 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JULY/AUGUST 2025
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