Rory McIlroy’s coach has a putting tip which can help amateurs to read any green in the world

Add as preferred source on Google

There is no question at all that Brad Faxon has had a positive impact on Rory McIlroy, with the Northern Irishman one of the best putters on the PGA Tour in 2025.

Brad Faxon is widely considered one of the greatest putters of his era on the PGA Tour. So it is no surprise that Rory McIlroy decided to work with him from 2018 as he looked to end his wait for a fifth major title.

The 36-year-old is sixth for strokes gained putting on the PGA Tour this year. Meanwhile, Faxon had the chance to offer some advice to McIlroy before the final round of The Masters in April.

So he is definitely someone all golfers can learn from as they look to improve on the greens.

Brad Faxon suggests how all golfers can improve at reading greens

Reading how putts break is certainly a skill. Some players trust what their eyes tell them. Others have utilised Aimpoint, using their feet to work out just how severe the slope is. It is fair to say that not everyone is a fan of Aimpoint.

And it seems that the process could be a lot simpler. Speaking to Titleist in May 2024, Faxon explained a method all players can use to help them get better at judging what their putts are going to do.

“If you can find a straight putt, if you can learn what straight is, then you can learn what breaking putts are. I’ve found a 10 footer, it’s a straight putt, it’s up the hill. So if you want to be a better putter on the course, finding straight is really important,” he said.

“So why is that important? Because if you can find the putt that’s straight, let’s just call this is 6 o’clock where I am right now, and the hole’s the hub of the clock and then the other side would be 12, so if you move towards five or move towards seven, now you’re going to be able to see putts that break in certain directions. So if you can find the straight uphill – Johnny Miller famously called this the fall line, where the ball would roll down towards – now as I move down to the right, towards 5 o’clock, now I know this putt’s going to move up the hill, slightly to the left. Conversely, when I move to 7 o’clock, now it’s up the hill, it’s going to move slightly to the right. If you can start to understand that process, then you’re going to be better at reading greens.

“Finding straight is something that you can do on any green at any course in the world. And when you understand that concept of what straight is, then you’ll be able to understand where to play your putts a little bit better when you’re hitting putts with some side slope to them. So finding straight’s your key to learning to be a great putter.”

Rory McIlroy’s strokes gained putting stats on the PGA Tour over the last decade

McIlroy has had his share of highs and lows with the putter over the years. Unfortunately, putting woes cost him at both the 2022 Open Championship and the US Open two years later.

He could not buy a putt during the final round at The Old Course. And of course, he missed short putts on both 16 and 18 on an agonising Sunday at Pinehurst in 2024.

But he has made a dramatic improvement this season. This year marks the only time in the last decade that he has been inside the top 10 for strokes gained putting.

Obviously, McIlroy’s record suggests that it is too soon to get carried away and assume that he has figured everything out.

But it would be fantastic for the five-time major champion if he is able to remain one of the best putters on the PGA Tour over a much longer period.