Why are the players so worried about Pinehurst’s greens? It’s a combination of severe slopes and the USGA’s willingness to place hole locations on the edges of those slopes.
There are optical illusions all over Augusta National, according to Ralph Bauer, a PGA Tour putting coach to multiple players in the Masters field and co-founder of the popular Tour Read putting app.
Judging what the green around you is doing – and how best to navigate along it – is the essential ingredient for good putting. It’s why good players sweat over it – and recently, a new system has emerged on tour that is helping players do it.