Golf

Putting

Ernie Els
His game is power, no doubt. But his ticket to the winner's circle has always been the short game, maybe the best on Tour. He chips it beautifully and to watch him in thick rough around the green is something to behold. Such strong forearms, such soft hands. It's just that a good short game is no good unless you can stand over 3- and 4-footers and constantly knock 'em down. Els hasn't been doing that much in 2005, but I'd feel comfortable if my paycheck were on the line with him standing over a 5-footer.

Retief Goosen
No matter what he ever does, he'll be remembered for three-putting from about 12 feet at the 72nd green of the 2001 U.S. Open, a gaffe that prevented him from winning in regulation. Too bad, because he should be remembered for that stellar one-putt to make par at the 17th hole in the final of last summer's U.S. Open, or the sturdy two-putt that sealed the win one hole later. Steady with the blade, but not spectacular, which is sort of his persona, no?

Phil Mickelson
You'd be a rich man if you had $5 for every 3-footer he's missed over the last 10 years or so, yet statistically; he's been a premier performer for several years now. How to figure? Well, it's a tribute to just how darn close he hits it, the fact that he's seemingly looking at birdie rolls 12, 13, 14 times a round. He's bound to miss some short ones. That changed dramatically in 2004, perhaps because those closest to him finally talked sense into him — he didn't need to work on his driving and all those shots that provided the thrill of length; he needed to practice putts inside of 5 feet. He worked on it and the improvement is dramatic.

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Vijay Singh
His run of success is no secret: He finally started putting well. And it didn't matter which club he used, either — belly, long, short, pink, blue, or yellow. He started making putts and it served as a near-unbeatable situation coupled with his ball-striking prowess. The only thing is, he never looks comfortable on the putting green and the gut tells me that he could tumble into a whirl of bad putting at any time. It's just a hunch.

Tiger Woods
No, he's not always rolling it well, but when he is on with the flat stick, he's the best. I don't need any statistical data to make such a claim. I only have to look at the scores and the wins and the money; you don't climb to the top of those categories without knocking down a lot of putts. He might just be the greatest putter in the history of the galaxy when it comes to saving par and the one I will forever remember occurred on the last hole in regulation of the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla. It was a downhill slider from 5 or 6 feet and with Bob May already in, Woods faced the ultimate test — make it, or lose. He made it. He most always does when he has to. Just ask Chris DiMarco.

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