'Any Of The Important Putts That I’ve Ever Had, Eyes Were Always Closed' - PGA Tour Pro Reveals Unique Putting Routine

Joe Highsmith says he finds putting with his eyes closed helps him to make a good stroke, and regularly does it on the PGA Tour and for "any of the important putts" he's ever had

Joe Highsmith celebrates winning the Cognizant Classic
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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While many will have heard of a putting drill where you close your eyes to get a feel for distance, but PGA Tour pro Joe Highsmith actually admits to putting with his eyes shut in the big leagues.

We've seen all sorts of different methods over the years, with players like Jordan Spieth look at the hole and not the ball on short putts - but nothing like Highsmith.

In fact, he says "any of the important putts that I’ve ever had, eyes were always closed" when he discussed his unusual routine on the greens.

The 25-year-old has had a breakthrough season on the PGA Tour with his maiden victory coming at the Cognizant Classic in March.

So could his secret weapon be that he closes his eyes for any important putts he has to make? He told the PGA Tour about how and why he does what he does.

After his unique putting habit was a topic of discussion on the No Laying Up podcast, Highsmith revealed all when asked by the PGA Tour social team.

"I know the No Laying Up guys just released a clip talking about me putting with my eyes closed and yeah, I've done that for quite a long time now," said Highsmith.

"I don't know exactly when it started but my very first pro event was a PGA Tour Canada event and I had a 15 footer for eagle on 18 to get into a playoff and eyes were definitely shut for that one.

"Looking back over my golfing life, any of the important putts that I’ve ever had, eyes were always closed for sure."

And Highsmith had an interesting explanation for his closed eye putting routine - saying he can focus more on the actual stroke when he gets rids of the visual aspect of making the putt.

"Maybe it's like a nerve coping mechanism in a way," he added. "If I'm looking at the ball and I see the hole right there I think it just makes it difficult if you have that whole visual aspect.

"When I shut my eyes then I can just focus on making a stroke and take the results out of it and just try to put a good stroke on the ball."

Whether Highsmith has created a new craze that will be taking over the PGA Tour is one thing, but you may spot a few amateurs at the weekend trying to make the odd putt with their eyes shut just in case he's on to something.

Paul Higham
Paul Higham
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Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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