Rory’s Riviera Banned Shot: Beat Trap Putts

Riviera’s par-3 6th has a bunker in the middle of the green. If your ball ends up on the wrong side, the “easy” putt suddenly turns into a puzzle.

At last week’s Genesis Invitational, Rory McIlroy faced that exact problem and chose a move you rarely see from regular golfers: he chipped from the putting surface, carried the bunker, and took the stress out of the roll. He liked it so much, he did it again on Sunday. (Source: Golf Channel)

The real lesson here is not “start chipping off greens.”

It’s this:

Putting is only safe when it’s simple. When the putt gets weird, you need a smarter default.

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The No-Cute-Putt Test

Before you autopilot to putter, ask these 3 questions:

1. Can I roll it with normal pace and normal break?
   Yes = putt.

2. Does my putt require a “perfect” speed to work?
   If it has to die on a ridge, trickle down a slope, or avoid a scary spot by inches, that putt is a trap.

3. Do I have a runway?
   If the fringe is clean and you have green to work with, a low bump often beats a fancy putt.

If you fail #2, you should at least consider a bump.

That one decision can save 2 to 4 shots per round, because it removes the classic sequence: lag to 6 feet, miss, tap in angry.

If three-putts are your usual leak, this pairs perfectly with today’s tip: Stop Three-Putting (Pro Secrets)

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Quick Practice (10 Balls, 5 Minutes)

Towel Landing Drill

• Put a towel 2 to 3 paces onto the green.

• Chip 10 balls from just off the green.

• Goal: land it on the towel, not “close to the hole.”

If you can land 7 out of 10 on the towel, you will stop fearing tight lies.

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Want a Simple System You Can Use Mid-Round?

Most golfers lose strokes around the green for one reason: they choose the shot based on comfort, not math.

So I built a small tool that makes the choice automatic.

Paid readers get a downloadable Excel file that includes:

• A one-page Decision Matrix (Putt vs Bump vs Soft Loft) you can memorize fast

• A Round Tracker that shows how many strokes your choices are costing you

• A Practice Plan that targets your weakest decision in 15 minutes

If you have ever walked off a green thinking “I should’ve chipped that,” this is for you.

Download: ParTalk Tricky Putt Decision Matrix →

How To Use The Excel (2 Minutes)

Round Tracker

Log only these 4 fields after each “tricky” green:

• Lie (fringe, fairway cut, rough)

• Option you chose (putt, bump, soft loft)

• Result (1-putt, 2-putt, up-and-down, bogey+)

• What you wish you chose (quick honesty check)

After 2 rounds, you will see a pattern. That pattern is where your strokes are hiding.

Decision Matrix

A simple ladder that tells you what to try first.

Practice Plan

A 15-minute session that fixes the specific option you keep avoiding.

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The ParTalk Ladder (Your Default Order)

When a putt feels sketchy, run this ladder in order:

1. Putt

Choose it when you can hit a normal roll with a normal pace.

Green light: you can aim near the hole, not 10 feet away.

2. Bump (highest percentage for most amateurs)

Low, predictable, minimal airtime.

Use:

• 8-iron, 9-iron, or even hybrid

• A putting-style motion

• One landing spot, then let it run

Green light: you have a clean runway and the lie is tight.

3. Soft Loft

A little carry, calm landing, then small roll.

Use:

• PW, GW, or SW

• When you must carry fringe, rough, or a small ridge

Green light: you need carry, but you still have space to roll.

4. Specialty (flop, high spinner, hero shot)

Only when forced.

Rule: if you feel like you need your “best shot of the day” to pull it off, pick a different option.

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The “Trap” Signals (When Putting Stops Being Safe)

If your plan includes any of these, it’s usually a low percentage putt:

• You are aiming far away from the hole

• You are trying to “die it” on a tier

• You are already thinking about the comeback putt

• Your ball must pass a danger zone within 1 foot (collar edge, slope edge, bunker lip)

When you see two of those, bump is your friend.

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The 3-Club Setup (Stop Overthinking It)

Keep it simple. Most golfers need only:

• 8i or 9i for bump

• PW or GW for standard chip

• SW for soft loft

Pick one landing spot, then change club, not technique.

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The 15-Minute Practice Plan (From The Excel)

Part A: Landing Control (6 minutes)

Towel at 2 to 3 paces on. Hit 12 balls.

Score 1 point for each ball that lands on the towel.

Target: 7 points.

Part B: Distance Dial (6 minutes)

Three landing spots: 1 pace, 3 paces, 5 paces on.

Hit 3 balls to each spot with the same club.

Goal: make the ball land where your eyes planned.

Part C: Pressure Reps (3 minutes)

Pick one “tricky” spot and hit 5 in a row.

If you miss your landing spot twice, reset and restart.

This is how you build trust fast.

And when you do end up with that 4 to 6 footer, steal this pressure routine.

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The One-Round Challenge

On your next round, track just one stat:

How many times did you avoid a trap putt and choose bump or soft loft instead?

Target: 3 smart switches in a round.

That alone usually removes at least one sloppy bogey.

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Reply with one word: how many three-putts did you average per round last month? I’ll send you a quick personal note based on where you are.

—Hakan, ParTalk.com | Your Weekly Golf Buddy | Instagram: _partalk_