Which way is due West?

photo credit: Sandy Austin   During a charity match in Austin, Texas, Ben Hogan was heard asking his caddie, “which way is due west?”  Hogan believed he knew his own abilities better than any caddie since he always pulled his own clubs and judged his own distance.  He rarely asked his caddies any questions during play. 

After the round someone who overheard the question asked him about it, he said “All other things being equal, greens always break to the west.”

The next time you are in doubt about which way your putt will break, think of Ben Hogan’s question to his caddie and remember that all greens break to the west.  This obviously holds true except for sloping putts, which are going to break regardless of the direction of the grain.