Gordon with Isao Aoki and Gordon's son Thomas at the Senior British Open, 2003, played at Turnberry.

The Sociable Art of Putting

Why do the leading players never commit to putter contracts, when millions of dollars are paid to them for endorsement of everything else they carry, hit, wear, drive, drink and eat?

The answer is simple. Putting is half the game and, for most, the half of most significance. Thousands of golfers hit the ball well enough to play or teach the game professionally; less than 0.01% of those will ever be able to score well enough under pressure to become champion golfers. The key for those blessed few is putting.

Michele Wie (with profound apologies to all for prolonging the column inches about a golfer who might be better advised to become an accredited winner on the distaff side of golf (2003 U.S. Women's Public Links notwithstanding) before becoming a glorified mannequin on the catwalk of men's professional golf) scored 75 and 74 in the 2005 Sony Open in her home state of Hawaii. She missed the cut by seven strokes. However, what is most revealing is that had she putted the same this year as she had in 2004, when she missed the cut by a single stroke, she would have qualified for the final two rounds. In 2004, she averaged 27 putts in each round, this year she stumbled to 31 putts. In other words, from 'tee to green' she played just as well in more challenging conditions.

The amazing 'cut streak' of Tiger Woods, fast approaching 140, has had little to do with how well he was striking the golf ball. Indeed, it could be argued, based on his annual statistics, that 'through the green' he has fluctuated from the best to one of the worst on tour in the period. What has kept him whole and able to tee up every weekend he competes is the extraordinary ability he possesses to hole putts when he needs to do so.

Naturally, the major manufacturers promote length as the principal component for enjoyment of golf. After all, the technology and expertise invested in producing drivers is considerable and the cost per club exorbitant. Margins are healthy. The imposition of COR, club head size and shaft length limitations may slow down the innovation process for a while, but rest assured that the demands of quarterly results, shareholder returns and ball technology developments (at least until they are capped) will keep the market alive with promises of 'the next great thing'.

When the first question posed by any aspiring golfer is, 'how far do you hit the ball?' there should be instant realisation of diminished understanding of what the game is really about. In this regard, a friend of mine has amusingly analysed the problem as it exists in Japan, using the education cycle as a reference point:-

1. Kindergarten - for those most concerned with length;
2. Elementary school - for those concerned solely about scoring;
3. Junior high school - for those expressing some interest in the golf course;
4. High school - for those with some understanding and interest in Rules and etiquette;
5. College level - for those interested in the game's rich history;
6. Graduate school - for those few who appreciate that golf is primarily social and about friends and friendship.

It is often said by leading teaching professionals, to their credit, that if the general golfing population spent half as much time on practicing putting as they do their long game, scores and handicaps would plummet.

Invariably, children are better putters than adults. Part of the reason, of course, is that lack of length requires the child to perform better nearer the hole. Also relevant is the fact that until you have missed a lot of putts, you don't know just how difficult this apparently straightforward element of the game really is. Kids have little or no fear of the unknown, whereas adults who have played for years know precisely the problems that lie ahead.

The long putter has been the saviour of many professionals suffering from the putting woes. For how much longer, however, they will benefit from this ungainly 'prop' is anyone's guess. The affliction known as 'the yips' (hands and mind working in complete and utter disharmony) can affect anyone who plays golf. The fact that Bernhard Langer was able to overcome 'the disease' on three separate occasions is testament to extraordinary mental fortitude. For those who do not golf, it is difficult to understand what could be problematic about controlling the pace and direction of an implement striking a stationary ball from no more than 12 inches. And yet, once the yips are contracted, it is nearly impossible to find a complete cure.

One method prescribed in the early 20th century was the generous consumption of Kummel, as a result of which all muscle tenseness is removed, the hands and arms relax and the mind is numbed. The erratic stroke of the morning gives way to smoothness after lunch. It became known as "putting mixture". Whilst an acquired taste, no doubt, Kummel remains the prescription of choice for many at Prestwick (the world's largest consumer of Kummel), Royal County Down, Royal St. George's, Muirfield and the R&A. Indeed, given the sociability of the game at all of these revered institutions, declining Kummel after a hearty lunch would be tantamount to dereliction of duty to your playing partner. Friends and friendship, and the Art of Putting.