Sunday’s final round at The Genesis Invitational was primed for a dramatic finish. With world number one Rory McIlroy, sweet swinging Adam Scott and fan favorite Matt Kuchar in the final group all tied for the lead the stage was set for a real Hollywood finish.
But some wayward approaches at the fifth hole sent the lead actors off script as Adam carded a double bogey and Rory, not to be out done, finished with a triple. Scotty rebounded nicely in the second and third acts to raise the trophy. Rors exited stage left and was just a bit player after that.
Certainly it was rewarding to watch Scott earn the win as he has reinvented himself on the world golf stage. But for me it was disheartening to watch McIlroy struggle when another win was within his reach.
Both players possess attributes that their colleagues and fans alike admire. Scott has a beautiful, text book swing and leading man looks that make millions want to imitate him. And McIlroy, still the most honest and open golfer on tour has the long game that every golfer both pro or hacker covets. His driver is his money maker and a true Weapon of Grass Destruction.
Unfortunately, we drive for show and putt for dough as they say and while Rory has had an impressive season so far his putter hasn’t kept pace with his climb to the top of the world rankings.
Rors and Scotty couldn’t be more different in their putting routines. McIlroy has spent time with Brad Faxon working on his feel and trying to putt as he did when he first game on tour…a freer stroke is how it’s described.
Scott has been through a metamorphosis with his putting. His anchored stroke was banned in 2016 and he struggled to find an alternative. He went through a myriad of changes struggling to find something that worked until finally settling on a long putter with an un-anchored stroke. At the same time he has employed the AimPoint Golf Green Reading System. It has regenerated his putting and his game.
Strokes Gained Putting is the measure of the best putters on the PGA Tour. In 2017 Scott was ranked T128 and in 2018 T165. After finding his new club, stroke and routine he was T3 in ’19 while using the AimPoint and this season he is fifteenth. Truly it’s an impressive comeback.
Now it may seem a bit ridiculous to pick apart Rory’s game. After all he is the top golfer in the world. On Tour he has four top tens in four starts, a WGC win, two T3’s and a T5. He Leads the Tour in Strokes Gained Tee to Green and is second scoring average. But while every gofer is jealous of his long game and his ability to score his putting has failed him recently.
In 2017 he was 159 in Strokes Gained Putting and 97th in ’18. After his time with Faxon last year he climbed all the way to T24 for the season. This season he is currently ranked 109. That is nowhere near acceptable for a player of his status.
For the final round at Riviera Scott finished +2.025 in Strokes Gained Putting. McIlroy was a dismal -2.016, that’s the margin of victory right there.
Here’s a suggestion for Rory and we know he’s eagerly waiting for putting advice from a 12 handicapper who chokes on three footers with regularity. He may want to call his buddy Faxon for a refresher course to try and regain his feel.
In addition to that I would recommend he get with Scotty and get some AimPoint tips. It has turned his career around and while Rors isn’t near the low that Scott was a try at something new couldn’t hurt.
I do speak with little experience here as I use a simple version of AimPoint on occasion. On longer putts with a confusing line or plenty of break I take a second to throw up a few fingers to gauge the slope. Sometimes it works and if I can avoid one or two three putts a round it’s so worth it.
Scotty has transformed his putting game. Rory’s needs a little help. AimPoint could be the answer. After all, it sure couldn’t hurt.
Check out this video and give it a try. You’ll be a convert in no time.
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