Putt in the wind with steady base, true roll

England’s Alex Fitzpatrick during a practice round ahead of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York this week. Wearing an England football top from the World Cup in North America, he’ll know the value of a solid base when putting into the wind. — AFP

WE spend so much time thinking about how the wind affects long shots that we often forget how dramatically it can influence putts.

On blustery days, even a short putt can become unpredictable. A sudden gust can knock your stroke offline, alter ball speed and exaggerate the break – especially when the wind blows in the same direction as the slope.