Putts from inside two metres used to be automatic for Geoff Ogilvy but, with his blade running cold, golf has become a real grind.
The Victorian hasn’t won in the US since January, 2010 – and hasn’t won at all since his Australian Open win in December that year – his longest drought since his breakthrough victory at the 2005 Chrysler Classic.
And while the slump cannot be solely attributed to his putting, 2006 US Open champion Ogilvy admits it is the genesis of his problems.
Last year he fell to 155th on tour in strokes gained putting after averaging a position inside the top 30 for the previous four seasons.
And while it has lifted a little this season, back to 119th, last week’s T14 finish at Quail Hollow was only his second top-25 of the season.
He hasn’t had a top-10 since March 2013.
“It’s getting there but it’s been getting there for a long time really,” said Ogilvy ahead of this week’s Players Championship.
“I am hitting it better and last week was actually kind of frustrating because I played way better than I ended up finishing because I three-putted four times on Sunday and missed a bunch of putts during the week – which has kind of been the story.
“I holed a bunch of putts last week but I just missed some short ones which is not like what I used to do.
“But I played well and every tournament over the last few months has been getting better so the tide has turned I think.”
Ogilvy says the mental side of missing putts has become the real factor although the issues started with a lapse in technique.
The 36-year-old’s problems only equate to the odd putt here and there in a tournament but on the unrelenting stage of the US PGA tour, any small lapse makes a huge difference.
“The difference between winning and not making a cheque, it’s just a joke,” he said.
“There are weeks where it is five shots from the cut line to the lead. You can be playing well and this tour can still beat you up.
“It’s hard because it beats you up mentally.
“Your game has probably come all the way back but if you don’t get the results straight away you feel like you’re not playing well and you keep searching instead of letting it just come.
“Everybody has their good patches and bad patches. Hopefully I am coming out of my bad patch and it’s the last one I ever have.”
