'No Frustration'... Why Putting Becomes Difficult in the Later Rounds

Golf is difficult. Especially green play is tricky.

The green play in the later rounds is tricky due to various variables. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News

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Typical shots improve as the body warms up. However, putting is different. It becomes even harder in the later stages of a round. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), ranked 3rd in the world, also missed the visible major championship trophy at last June's US Open. It was the final 4th round held at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in North Carolina, USA. He led by 2 strokes up to the 13th hole (par 4), but after a bogey on the 14th hole, he missed a 1.2m par putt on the last 18th hole (also par 4). Missing two short putts dropped him to 2nd place by 1 stroke. McIlroy, who won this tournament in 2011, aimed for the top again but had to settle for runner-up for the second consecutive year.

Putting in the later stages of a round is actually more difficult. It's not all due to mental reasons. Recently, Golf.com analyzed why putting becomes harder in the later stages of a round. The media diagnosed, "McIlroy's putt looked too simple," and "It was not a mistake caused by momentary pressure."

Golf.com presented the reasons why putting is difficult in the later stages of a round. First is the influence of the grass. The media said, "Right after the maintenance team cuts the green in the morning, the ball rolls well. If you read the line accurately and hit the ball, it rarely goes far off course." They added, "As the grass grows throughout the day, it affects putting. Although it cannot always be visually confirmed, it sometimes pushes the ball off the line."

The reason putting becomes harder in the later stages is due to golfers' ‘foot traffic’. Golf.com explained, "When many people walk across the green, it starts to affect the putting surface. Along with the growing grass, golfers' foot traffic causes changes in the line." They also stated, "This effect is more pronounced closer to the cup. Footsteps near the cup interfere with putting." Dave Pelz, a leading American instructor and putting coach, called this phenomenon the ‘lumpy donut effect’. Golf.com comforted, "There is no need to be disappointed if you miss putts in the later stages of a round," and "Statistics show that putting becomes more difficult as time passes."

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