WHEN THE US OPEN RETURNS TO PINEHURST NO 2 (JUNE 13-16), THERE’S A good chance you’re going to see some of the world’s best golfers hitting shots they seldom try. The design of this Donald Ross classic, with its famous turtle-back greens, collection areas and links-style contouring, practically implores you to adjust from your normal game – even nudging the pros to putt from off the green! If you want to avoid double bogeys and lower your scores, there’s a lot to be said for taking what a course gives you. It’s certainly a big part of what we teach everyday golfers who visit us. For example, on a firm-and-fast course like No 2, it’s often a lot easier to keep shots low and let them run to their destination than it is to execute some sort of finesse shot you rarely, if ever, practice. In this article, we’re going to give you some pointers for playing a course when fairways are tightly mowed, bunkers have crusty sand and tee shots seem to keep running until they find trouble, and we’ve asked Golf Digest Assistant Editor Madeline MacClurg, photographed here, to test drive our tips to verify their merits. Whether you get to No 2, a links in Scotland, or a Highveld course in mid-winter when dry weather has turned your normally lush course into a baked-out runway, read on to learn how to score in these challenging conditions.
ALWAYS THINK FIRST, CAN I PUTT THIS? t Pinehurst No 2, you must be precise with your approaches or the ball is likely to roll off into a collection area or worse. As discouraging as barely missing a green might be, don’t compound a tough break by following it with a low-percentage recovery shot. When Martin Kaymer won the US Open by eight shots here in 2014, his strategy around the greens was simple and smart – putt everything possible. If your chipping game is erratic, consider a similar game plan. To master the of-green putt ( above ), think of it as a normal putt, just longer with a few adjustments. First, stand slightly wider than normal for better stability. Next, take a A
few practice swings focusing on a long, flowing stroke that doesn’t feel like you need any extra effort to get the ball onto the green. You don’t want to make a fast, jerky stroke that could cause a mis-hit. The emphasis should be on making solid contact so that the ball seems to roll up the slope effortlessly. “I also leaned the shaft forward a touch to hit it solid and help get the ball rolling quicker,” MacClurg says. Another thing to remember is to read these putts just like if you were on the green. Factor dew, the firmness of the turf, the contours and the height and grain of the grass. It’s never a bad idea to hit a few of these before you go out to play. Practice instills confidence. Just ask Martin.
50 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JUNE 2024
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