Stewart Zink won his first major title over the weekend – in dominant fashion. With rounds of 69-67-70-63, Cink left the field at Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla., shooting 19 under for a six-shot victory over runner-up Ben Crane.
“To win a tournament like this, to come back in four rounds on a golf course like this, full field — this trophy is so heavy you can hardly hold it — it feels good,” Cink said. “It’s just proving what I’m doing with my team.”
Cink was brilliant all week en route to his first major win, but it was the final round that put an exclamation point on the week. With seven birdies and an eagle, the 52-year-old cruised to a bogey-free 63.
“Today was just one of the best rounds I’ve played as a professional golfer,” Cink said. “It was just really good.”
Really good may be an understatement. With seven birdies and an eagle — and no bogeys — Cink’s round was the best in the field by three shots on Sunday, and five better than any other competitor who finished in the top 10.
His grand final round was no fluke. According to Cink, after his third round in which he posted a two-under 70, he headed to the practice green to clean up some things with his short game. That’s when he found something in his green reading that was game-changing.
Fixing the green reading by Zinc
When Cink took to the practice green Saturday night, he wasn’t looking for a magic solution to his game; he had played well in three rounds. But he noticed that most of his shots were missing on the underside (aka below the hole).
“I just went back to some basics and changed my philosophy to read the greens just a hair,” Cink said. “Added some rest today, actually.”
That’s all it took. Playing a bit more rest in the tight end of the Concession than he originally did, he took a shot after a shot in what he called “one of his best goal-scoring days last year.”
How reading too much can help you
Recreational golfers can learn a lot from Cink’s Saturday epiphany. According to research BY GOLF Top 100 Teachers Eric Alpenfels, 96 percent of golfers underread their shots by more than 60 percent. This means that nine times out of 10 when you see your partner lining up for a putt, he or she will miss it on the low side.
When you miss below the hole, your ball has zero chance of going in. Plus, when the ball goes down the hole, it leaves the hole as it goes out. Both of these things are bad for your placement stats—and, ultimately, your results.
So the next time you line up for a putt, take a page from Cink’s putt and play for a little more rest. Chances are, it will put your ball in a much better position to enter the hole.
