Lies and Letters

Here are five principles that, according to statistical analyses, Tiger did better than the rest of the field.

1. No double bogeys!
   Jack gave Rory this advice before Rory made his second Masters win, and little wonder why–making double bogeys is a surefire way to kill your scores. Every double bogey cancels out two pars. An amateur’s best bet for lowering scores is avoiding blow-up scores, not hunting for birdies.

2. No 3 putts!
Putts are 50% of the score for a par player. Every 3 putt you make puts pressure on the rest of your golf game when the movements are bigger and the margin for error is smaller. It’s far easier not to blow up your scores on the green, so work on your lag putting. And for amateurs, practicing distance control has a better ROI than a perfecting your greens-reading abilities.

3. No double chips!
Be a good enough at chipping that you don’t flub it or set your ball sailing across the green; because once it’s on the green, it is well within your ability to 2 putt it to the hole. Once you can accomplish that, work on increasing the accuracy of your chipping, so you can relieve pressure on putts.

4. No bogeys on approach shots!
Approach shots drive scoring more than any other category besides putting. Once you’re in approach range, the name of the game is avoiding mistakes. If you don’t have the accuracy and the distance control of a tour pro, it will serve you better to hold off on the pin-seeking and just aim for the fat part of the green.

5. No bogeys on par 5s!
Par 5s are your scoring holes. For an amateur, really, this does not mean putting pressure on yourself and playing par 5s as eagle holes–Tiger didn’t even have a birdie average for par 5s–it means avoiding bogeys. Don’t make ultra agressive second shots that will make you lose accuracy or place you in hazards. Par 5s present you with the opportunity to make comfortable GIRs. You don’t have to make forced carries over hazards. You don’t have to use long clubs over bad lies.