Scottie Scheffler Dominated Golf Doing This | The Game Plan | Golf Digest

Summary

Scotty Scheffler's success in golf can be attributed to his disciplined and strategic approach, rooted in the game plan of Ben Hogan. By adopting Hogan’s 'green zone' strategy, Scheffler consistently hits safer areas on the greens rather than aiming directly at the pins. This reduces risky mistakes and increases birdie opportunities. His method involves prioritizing distance control and avoiding the short side, all while staying patient and trusting his short game. Through this strategy, Scheffler's game has reached unprecedented levels, demonstrating how patience and discipline can set great golfers apart.

Takeaways

• 😀 Scheffler's success is rooted in a disciplined, strategic approach rather than raw talent alone.
• 😀 The 'Green Zone Strategy' focuses on hitting safe, strategic areas on the green rather than attacking the pin directly.
• 😀 Scotty Sheffler's key insight is avoiding the 'red zone' — areas off the green near the hole — which are the worst places to miss.
• 😀 Missing long when the pin is at the front of the green is an effective strategy to avoid trouble and create more birdie opportunities.
• 😀 Most golfers make the mistake of missing short on front pins, which leads to short-sided, difficult recovery shots.
• 😀 Scheffler's ability to manage distance control and adjust his approach based on pin placement is a key to his consistency.
• 😀 By targeting the 'green zones,' Scheffler avoids short-siding himself, giving him a higher percentage of makeable birdie putts.
• 😀 The strategy that Scheffler uses is rooted in principles from golf legend Ben Hogan, particularly his focus on smart shot-making over aggressive plays.
• 😀 Adapting to different pin locations, particularly when the pin is in the left or right sections, is crucial for avoiding high-risk shots.
• 😀 Patience and mental discipline are critical to success. Scheffler avoids chasing short birdie putts and instead plays for the safe, medium-length opportunities.
• 😀 The 'green zone' strategy is simple to follow and can be applied by golfers of all levels, focusing on smart decision-making rather than perfection.

Q & A

What is the secret to Scotty Scheffler's success?

The secret to Scotty Scheffler's success lies in his disciplined approach to course management, specifically his 'Green Zone Strategy.' Instead of aiming directly at the pin, he focuses on safe areas of the green that reduce risk and increase his chances of scoring well, even if he doesn't hit the perfect shot.

How did Scotty Scheffler's strategy compare to Ben Hogan's?

Scotty Scheffler's strategy is heavily influenced by Ben Hogan's approach. Both players prioritize hitting safe areas of the green, particularly avoiding the 'red zones' (short side of the green). Hogan’s advice about clubbing up to front pins and playing safely is reflected in Scheffler's disciplined approach to avoiding risk.

What is the 'Green Zone Strategy' in golf?

The 'Green Zone Strategy' refers to targeting specific, safe areas of the green rather than aiming directly at the pin. These zones provide a higher margin of error, reducing the risk of missing in dangerous areas like the 'red zone' (short side), which statistically leads to worse outcomes.

Why is missing long on the green better than missing short, especially with front pins?

Missing long on the green is better than missing short because missing short places the ball in the 'red zone,' the worst possible spot to miss. This leads to difficult recovery shots. Missing long, while not ideal, leaves the player with a much safer, easier chip or putt, keeping the chances of a good score higher.

What common mistake do most golfers make when the pin is located at the front of the green?

The common mistake is aiming directly for the pin with the wrong club, especially when it’s at the front of the green. Golfers often come up short because they choose a club based on the distance to the pin rather than considering the overall distance and the danger of missing in the red zone.

How does Scotty Scheffler adapt his strategy when the pin is in the front middle or front right locations?

When the pin is in the front middle or front right locations, Scheffler consistently targets the same area of the green, a zone towards the front right. This approach maximizes his chances of leaving a good putt, as 72% of his shots to front right pins end in this area, which is his favorite spot.

What role does discipline play in Scheffler's success?

Discipline is key to Scheffler’s success. He consistently sticks to his game plan of playing to safe zones, even when it may seem less aggressive. This patience and adherence to his strategy help him avoid unnecessary risks and capitalize on opportunities for pars and birdies.

How does Scheffler's ability to avoid the 'short side' contribute to his success?

Scheffler’s ability to avoid the 'short side'—the area of the green nearest the pin—helps him minimize difficult recovery shots. By playing to safer zones and adjusting his aim based on pin location, he ensures that even when he misses, he has a better chance of making an easy up-and-down or a two-putt for par.

What percentage of the time does Scheffler miss in the short side when the pin is located at the front or back?

When the pin is at the front of the green, Scheffler misses in the short side only 2.9% of the time. When the pin is at the back, this percentage increases slightly to 3.2%. These numbers are significantly lower than the tour average, demonstrating Scheffler's exceptional course management.

What makes Scheffler’s putting and short game important to his overall success?

Scheffler’s putting and short game are crucial to his success, as they allow him to capitalize on his consistent ball striking. While he ranks highly in approach play and avoids three-putts, his ability to confidently putt from longer distances and trust his short game contributes to his ability to make birdies and save pars.