When it comes to the moments which decide the biggest of golf tournaments, they often take place on the green when the player involved has to be the most precise.
Few will ever forget the sight of Rory McIlroy losing the US Open after missing two short putts over the final four holes at Pinehurst in 2024.
Meanwhile, perhaps the most iconic shot of Jack Nicklaus‘ career came on the 17th green at Augusta National in 1986 on his way to what became the final major championship of his illustrious career.
No-one wins a golf tournament by just being an elite putter, but it is clearly such a game-changer when you have an ability to step up in the biggest moments with the flat stick.
Hank Haney names the two greatest putters of all-time
It is perhaps one of the easier debates for golf fans to have – who really is the greatest putter of all-time?
And speaking on The Hank Haney Podcast, Hank Haney shared who he believes to be the two best putters the game has ever had.
“A great putter is a great touring pro putter. Tiger Woods was probably one of the greatest putters ever, if not the greatest putter. Because I think you have to factor in putting under pressure. I remember one day I had a conversation with Tiger and he said who do you think the best putters are. I said you are,” he said.
“He said who else. I said Jack Nicklaus. Don’t give me all these names they throw that they say are great putters because I said what pressure putts have those guys made? Some of the names that were thrown out there. I said you have to factor in the putts under pressure. And if it was me, in his prime, I would go with Tiger Woods for sure. If I had somebody to putt for me and they had to make that putt, it would be Tiger Woods. It felt like he could will it in the hole. He was a phenomenal putter. He had the things you need to be a great putter. He had great technique and a great technique in putting is a repeatable technique.”
When Tiger Woods produced the greatest putting performance in major championship history
Of course, it is hard to imagine that the putting surfaces that the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer played on were anything like the greens now seen week-in, week-out on the PGA Tour.
But perhaps that is why Woods may indeed be the greatest – because of one tournament in particular.
He may have played better – one major later in fact – but the 49-year-old’s masterpiece was surely the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach, which Woods won by 15 shots. No major has ever been won by a greater margin.
And it has been suggested that week at Pebble Beach saw Woods produce the greatest putting display in major championship history.
“He didn’t three putt, didn’t miss anything under 10 feet. Those greens were so bumpy and so small with such great break in them, but he handled them like nobody else,” Jaime Diaz told Golf Channel.
“He was just an incredible finisher as well, because on Sunday he has a 10 stroke lead and he’s just so determined not to make a bogey. The focus was incredible, everything was peak Tiger at that moment.”
That was hardly an anomaly. Every fan can probably recall a moment when Woods stepped up with a putt to steal the show and seal the tournament.
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