Why this major champion takes divots with his putter

This major-winning golfer explains why he takes divots with his putter.

Taking a divot on the putting green is widely regarded as a huge no-no, but try telling that to this multiple major champion…

Grant Horvat has one of the fastest-growing golf YouTube channels. The former Good Good member recently went past a million subscribers on his main channel, has 186,000 on his second channel, and boasts 777,000 followers on Instagram.

His influence on the game is growing too. He recently became part-owner of direct-to-consumer iron brand Takomo, and just this week it emerged that Horvat is responsible (or ‘to blame’, depending on your golf apparel preferences) for Phil Mickelson signing a deal to wear joggers on the course from now on.

Mickelson is one of many tour pros Horvat has collaborated with. Bryson DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau, Jon Rahm, John Daly II, Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood, and Jason Day have all appeared in Horvat’s content. In recent weeks, the caliber of guests has risen even higher, with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods turning up to give Horvat and his viewers some swing tips.

But it was Horvat’s latest video that really got my attention. Horvat played nine holes with an 89-year-old Gary Player, who displayed some incredible golf for his age, while delivering some moments that were archetypal of the voluble South African.

Player shouting unsolicited advice across the range at an unsuspecting amateur golfer? Tick.

Player insisting there should be a new name for golf because it’s not golf anymore? Tick.

Player asserting there’s no such thing as a par-5 anymore and every course is effectively a par-68? Tick.

Player stating he was the first to start the trend of weight training in golf? You can bet your last kettlebell on it.

Player predicting a golfer will emerge soon hitting drive 500 yards? Yep.

Player awkwardly grabbing Horvat’s arms and thighs on the 1st tee? [Shudders] yes.

Player saying the golf ball rollback isn’t enough and distances should be reduced by 60 yards? Full House! Thanks for playing Gary Player Bingo.

But there was one thing I didn’t expect.

Player delivered some putting insights different to anything I’d heard before.

“I can honestly say, I don’t think there were many better putters than I was,” he said, in typically modest fashion. “And this is how I putted, because I copied Bobby Locke. Watch on the downstroke – watch this…”

Player then hits a putt and takes a small divot, before watching the ball roll into the center of the cup from what looks like at least 30 feet.

“You took a divot,” spots Horvat.

“That’s what he did,” confirms Player. “This is how [Billy] Caspar putted, Bobby Locke putted, [Arnold] Palmer putted.”

Before you start taking chunks out of the greens on your golf course, it’s worth remembering that the greens Player and those other former greats putted on were very different to the surfaces we’re blessed with today.

“I think Bobby Locke is the best putter the world has ever seen, because he never putted on a green like we just putted on in his life,” explains Player. “He made as many [putts] as anybody who ever lived. So what would have happened if you’d given him the greens that we putt on today?”

“I come onto this green and the first thing I think of? That I never played a green like this, hardly, in my life,” Player had earlier remarked while warming up on the practice green. “I mean, anybody who tries to make a comparison between [Jack] Nicklaus and Tiger Woods doesn’t know anything about golf. When we played, we played on Bermuda greens. You didn’t have a mower that could cut the green short.”

It’s likely that the jabby stroke was useful to deal with longer grass on the greens back in the day. Nonetheless, the video sees Player persevere with what he describes as a “little pop” stroke on greens that look slick and pure, rolling great putts on all of them.

“There was no comparison between the way you hit your putt and how I hit mine,” he tells Horvat on one green. “Yours came out like a poopy, and mine was hit with authority.”

Horvat agrees there’s something in it.

“I went to that putting studio and they were showing strokes of Gary Player and a couple of the older golfers that were taking divots with their putter, so this is not something that’s crazy,” he recalls. “Not full divots, but you could see they were disturbing the grass and hitting down on it, and that would get the putt rolling. So if you’re ever out there, during a round of golf, just try hitting down on your putt a little bit more. Just give it a try, it’s not for everyone, but give it a go.”

Who am I to argue with a man who’s won nine majors and nine senior majors? Especially given how well he continues to play well into his ninth decade. I’m a 3-handicapper in my (relative) prime and I think he’d dust me on the course.

“Right now, I would say that you’re the best 89-year-old golfer in the world,” says Horvat, after Player has piped another drive down the middle of the fairway. I imagine he’s right.

I also loved how much Player’s passion for golf continues to shine through. On more than one occasion in the video, he hits another ball for no reason other than not being satisfied with his first attempt. At almost 90, he’s still giving it his all, experimenting with his swing, and trying his best to get better. He’s a divisive character, no doubt, but it’s hard not to be inspired by that.

About the author

Rob McGarr – Contributing Editor

Rob has been a writer and editor for over 15 years, covering all manner of subjects for leading magazines and websites.

He has previously been Features Editor of Today’s Golfer magazine and Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com, and held roles at FHM, Men’s Running, Golf World, and MAN Magazine.

You can follow him on YouTube where – depending on what day of the week it is – he’ll either be trying his best to get his handicap down to scratch or shoving his clubs in a cupboard, never to be seen again.

Rob is a member at Royal North Devon, England’s oldest golf course, where he plays off a three-handicap.