3 Keys to shooting lower scores

     This past weekend I watched Tiger Woods tie Sam Snead's record for the most PGA Tour wins by winning the ZOZO Championship in Japan. Tiger won by three strokes and finished at 19 under par.
     Tiger's amazing record as a front runner is because he rarely makes mistakes coming down the stretch. He keeps the tee ball in play, has control of his approach shots and almost never three putts.
    Obviously we don't play at Tiger's level but focusing on these three factors is the key to shooting lower scores.

Eliminating penalty shots
1. Most penalty shots occur from errant tee shots. If you struggle keeping your tee ball in play seek help from a PGA Professional. Correcting a swing flaw combined with a properly fitted driver can do wonders for your tee ball.

Consistency inside 60 yards
2. Developing a better than average wedge game is paramount to improving your scores. PGA Tour Players average hitting 12 to 13 greens in regulation per round yet still shoot under par regularly. This shows how good they are at getting the ball up and down. Good distance control on chips and pitch shots is key to saving par more often.

Eliminating three putts
3. Believe it or not putting is often 40 to 50 percent of your score. Three putting is usually the result of poor distance control on longer putts. Practice getting the ball within a three foot circle from twenty feet and longer. Focus on the speed rather than just the direction.

Dedicate your practice time to improving these three areas of your game and I guarantee you will shoot lower scores.