Hello, Daily Duffer readers! Sarah Chen here, and I’m excited to dive into a topic that’s near and dear to my heart: how to lower your scores by embracing intelligent golf, not just raw power. Our recent feature on Miyu Yamashita’s stunning victory at the Maybank Championship offers a masterclass in exactly this philosophy. As a PGA-certified instructor with over 15 years of experience, I’ve seen countless golfers, from tour pros to weekend warriors, transform their game by focusing on precision and strategy.
Yamashita, at just 24, delivered a blueprint for success on the LPGA Tour. On a Par 72 course measuring 6,536 yards, her average driving distance was only 235 yards. Yet, she secured her second career LPGA title with surgical precision: 89% fairways hit, 78% greens in regulation, and an average of just 27.75 putts per round. This isn’t a fluke; it’s a testament to a thoughtful, strategic approach to the game.
Let’s take a page from Miyu’s playbook and learn how you can dramatically improve your scores, starting today:
1. Fairways First: Your Foundation for Lower Scores
One of the biggest mistakes I see golfers make is prioritizing distance over accuracy off the tee. The lure of a long drive is powerful, but a long drive into the rough, or worse, out of bounds, costs you strokes immediately. Miyu Yamashita’s performance highlights this perfectly:
“Yamashita hit 50 of 56 fairways (89%) during the tournament week. This exceptional accuracy set up every subsequent shot, allowing her to attack pins from the short grass rather than scrambling from trouble.”
Hitting fairways isn’t just about avoiding penalty strokes; it’s about setting yourself up for success on every subsequent shot. When you’re playing from the short grass, you have a clean lie, better vision of the green, and more control over your spin. This translates directly into hitting more greens in regulation and, ultimately, lower scores.
Try this Drill: The “Fairway Finder” Challenge
For your next three rounds, pick a club off the tee that you are confident will land in the fairway. This might mean leaving the driver in the bag on more holes than you’re used to. On the range, practice hitting 10 shots with your driver, then 10 shots with your 3-wood, and 10 shots with a hybrid or even a long iron. Note which club gives you the highest percentage of “fairway-like” contacts. Then commit to using that club on the course when accuracy is paramount. Your ego might feel a little bruised seeing shorter drives, but I promise your scorecard will thank you.
2. The Power of Greens in Regulation: Eliminating Big Numbers
Once you’ve found the fairway, the next crucial step is to get the ball onto the green. This might sound obvious, but many golfers aim for pins when a smarter play is to aim for the center of the green. Yamashita’s statistics tell a powerful story:
“Yamashita hit 56 of 72 greens in regulation (78%) for the week. In her final round? An astounding 16 of 18 (89%). This consistency separates champions from also-rans.”
When you hit more greens, you give yourself more opportunities for two-putt pars and even birdies. More importantly, you eliminate the high-risk, high-reward shots that often lead to bogeys, double bogeys, and worse. My tour players know that making par is always a good thing, and aiming for the center of the green is the simplest way to achieve that.
Here’s a Drill for Smarter Approaches: The “Green Heart” Practice
For your next practice session focused on iron play, pick a target green. Instead of trying to hit different flags, choose one central area on the green and try to hit it consistently with every iron in your bag, varying the distance. Track how many times you land inside a 15-foot radius of your chosen target. On the course, make a conscious decision on every approach shot: aim for the fattest part of the green. Forget the tucked pins for a while. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your GIR percentage improves and how much less stress you feel on the course.
3. Know Your Numbers: Honesty is Your Best Club
One of the biggest eye-openers for my students is when we accurately measure their carry distances. It’s human nature to remember our best shots, but relying on those “one-in-a-hundred” distances will consistently leave you short. Yamashita’s success, despite her relatively shorter driving distance, proves this point:
“The world’s best female golfers succeed because they know their numbers and trust them.”
Knowing your *actual* carry distances, not just your total distance with roll, is paramount for club selection. Most male amateur golfers overestimate their carry by 10-20 yards per club. This leads to hitting into bunkers, thick rough short of the green, or even water hazards.
Action Item: The “Club Up” Challenge
Head to a driving range with accurate yardage markers or, even better, a launch monitor. Hit 10 shots with *each* of your irons and record the average carry distance. Be honest with yourself! Write these numbers down on a small card and keep it in your golf bag. Now, for the challenge: for your next few rounds, whenever you’re faced with an approach shot, force yourself to take one more club than your ego tells you. If you think it’s a 7-iron, hit a 6-iron. You’ll be shocked at how many more greens you hit when you finally reach them consistently.
4. Master the Short Game: Where Rounds Are Won and Lost
Even the best golfers miss greens. When that happens, your short game becomes your savior. Yamashita’s ability to get up and down was a crucial factor in her victory, with a 75% sand save percentage and her impressive putting average of 27.75 putts per round. This isn’t about power; it’s about touch, feel, and endless repetition.
Here’s a Drill: The “100-Yard Wizard” Routine
If you’re like most golfers, you spend the majority of your practice time on full swings. Let’s flip that. For your next several practice sessions, dedicate 60% of your time to shots within 100 yards of the green. This includes pitching, chipping, bunker shots, and putting. Create mini-games for yourself: for chipping, try to get 10 chips within a 3-foot circle around the hole from various lies. For putting, don’t leave the practice green until you’ve holed three consecutive putts from 6 feet. This targeted, repetitive practice will build the touch and feel necessary to save strokes when your full swing isn’t perfect.
The Sarah Chen Takeaway
Miyu Yamashita’s dominant performance is a clear message: golf isn’t just about who hits it furthest. It’s about who plays the smartest, most consistent golf. Embrace accuracy, understand your true distances, and dedicate time to your short game. These are the ingredients for lower scores and a more enjoyable experience on the course. You absolutely can transform your game – let’s make it happen!
