This past weekend Adam Scott won the EDS Byron Nelson Championship in extra holes by draining a 48 footer for birdie. It was an incredible shot, one of the best of the week. However, it is also completely illogical. How do you miss 12-15 footers all day and then drop a interstate bomb?

There are many ways to read a putt. You can pick a line, aim for a point, find the apex, etc. Each method works as long as you accurately see the contours of the putting surface. Unfortunately, for most amateurs they never get to see if their read was correct because they do not put a good stroke on the ball.

The hole is approximately four and a quarter inches wide. It is a little wider than the width of your hand. That is pretty wide. So here is the current problem in mindsets for just about everyone not getting paid to play. The hole is fairly wide but the fixation during putting is on a point or a line. Essentially, the golfer takes a small target and makes it smaller.

It all comes down to the visualization of the putt. How wide is the line or how big is the point you aim for before you commit to the swing. Chances are the putt you are about hit has been made more difficult due to the restriction placed on the desired path. Next time you putt, allow for a little more room for error. If you focus on a line to the hole, imagine the line is 4.25 inches wide. That is probably a nice big boulevard compared to the razor line you normally visualize. This will relax your stroke preventing pushes or shorts.

As the Masters Tournament approaches the weekend each shot counts more and more. Add that pressure to the numerous water hazards and the opportunity to throw up large numbers becomes the norm rather than the exception. No player is immune to this anxiety but how they handle it decides the victor.

Even seasoned professionals wear their mental state on their sleave so to speak. Often times lost with their snazzy outfits and space age equipment is their posture. The two biggest tells can be found in their head position and their shoulder height.

When faced with anxiety and stress the body automatically resorts to preprogrammed fight or flight responses. Due to social practices in golf, running away or fighting is not appropriate so other channels for release must be found. Socially acceptable channels most often revolve around tensing up and releasing the emotional stress throughout the body.

As your favorite players make their way around the final 36 holes pay special attention first to their chin. As the body tenses due to stress it is a natural reaction to conceal the jugular by lowering the chin. This response effects the spine angle and results in players blocking the ball sending it to the right for right-handed players. The second area of focus is the shoulders. Again, as the body tenses their is a natural reaction to flex the trapezoidal muscles and raise the shoulders. This keeps the arms from moving freely and allows the body to move faster than the hands sending the ball to the left for right-handed players.

So as you watch golf’s greatest, look for how they hold their pressure. And when you hit the links be aware of the tension in your body. If you relax and have fun then you will play better and have more fun.