Drive For Show/ Putt For Dough

Whoever coined the phrase "Drive for Show and Putt for Dough" knew exactly what they were talking about. Most golfers, from amateur to professional, will tell you that putting is the hardest part of the game of golf.

So why does this saying make so much sense? Well first off, if you have ever had a perfect drive and still scored a double bogey, you know why. I myself have done this more times than I care to count. As a matter of fact until late last season into this season, that phrase summed up my golf game perfectly. Driving the ball is the easy part of golf ( if there is such a thing as an easy part of golf). Even a first time golfer will get lucky and have some decent drives.

Now on to the second part of the phrase. If you have ever missed a two foot putt you already understand. This is another thing that has happened to me more times than I care to admit. Now imagine trying to sink a putt in front of thousands of people and thousands of dollars on the line. You need to be one heck of a putter to make that shot. That is why most of the top ranked golfers in the world are also in the top of the putting statistic.

Have you ever wondered why you never see any of those longest drive guys on the PGA tour? Its because driving the ball is very small part of the game. For me it seems like the closer to the hole I get, the harder the shots get.

For Example:

On a 400 yard par four as you approach the tee box your only thought is to hit the ball out there in the middle of the fairway. You don't have to worry about yardage cause you are not going to make the green and if it's not in the fairway chance are you will still have to decent 2nd shot.

Now lets say you had a 275 yard drive. So you are looking at 125 yards to the center of the green, which just so happens to be where the cup is. Now its decision time, what club do you use. More than likely you are going to be between two clubs. So do you swing a hard Pitching Wedge or weak Nine Iron.

Lets say you went with the weak Nine. You hit it hole high but you pushed it to the right. So now you have to chip. And of course you trickled into the thick stuff. So now you are trying to play out a million different scenarios, but for the sake of time and you boredom we will go with just two. If you go for the cup and miss you will roll all the way to front of the green. If you try to leave it a little short you leave yourself with a double breaking downhill putt.

Well we are amateurs so we always go for the cup right. You went for the cup and it almost dropped in the cup but almost doesn't count. You still have to one putt to save your par. It is only three feet long but it breaks hard from right to left and you have to get over a little ridge. With no pressure other than wanting the much needed par and having bragging rights you make the putt.

Notice how each of the last four paragraphs progressive had a lot more decisions to be made. One of the things that always amazes me is when a professional hits a horrible tee shot, and the still pulls off a par. The reason for this is because of their second shots and their ability to sink putts.

All of us can hit good drives. And all of us will sink some putts. But imagine doing it for a 72 hole tournament with thousands in attendance and maybe millions watching on t.v. The throw in all the superstars around and playing for some big money and prestige. This still proves that the old adage drive for show and putt for dough still rings very true to this day.