Four easy things to improve your golf scores!

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler… What do these two have in common?

They stick to the fundamentals.

While you might not be hitting 350-yard bombs like Rory, mastering these simple basics is your quickest way to improve your golf and lower your scores.

Forget those YouTube trick shots for a minute. We're talking about four easy, game-changing strategies that even tour pros swear by. Trust us, your scorecard will thank you.

We looking at a beginner/average golfer with a handicap of 20+

But all skill levels would benefit from the below:

1 - Practice Longer Putts on the Warm-up

Most beginners spend their pre-round putting session draining 3-footers. While confidence from short putts is good, it doesn't prepare you for the reality of your round. The majority of your putts won't be 3-footers. The average golfer, when in regulation, is 36 feet from the hole. From here, the goal would be to try to get within the three-foot range.

Speed control is paramount in putting. If you can get your longer putts within a reasonable range, you've lowered the chances of a three-putt. Practicing longer putts on the practice green helps your feel for pace.

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Watch any tour pro on the putting green before a round. They spend a significant amount of time hitting putts across the entire length of the green. Their goal isn't necessarily to make them, but to get a feel for the speed of the greens that day. Getting the pace right on long putts is what saves them strokes.

• Begin your putting warm-up by hitting several long putts from various distances. Focus solely on pace, trying to get the ball to stop within the 3 foot range.

• Once you have a feel for the speed, then move to mid-range putts.

• Finally, finish with those important short putts.

2 - Be Specific About the Point You're Aiming For

"Aim for the fairway" isn't an aim. It's a hope. This applies to every shot – off the tee, approach shots, chipping, and especially putting.

The human brain is better at hitting specific targets. If you tell yourself "hit it towards the 150-yard marker," your body has a much clearer instruction than "hit it somewhere in the fairway." This helps with alignment and commitment to the shot.

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Professionals are meticulous about their pre-shot routine and target selection. Rory McIlroy focuses on precise alignment and visualization, while Jordan Spieth picks a tiny spot on his intended line for putting. Their commitment to a specific target enables confident execution.

• Tee Shots - Pick a specific tree, a marker/stake or even a bunker directly in line with your target.

• Approach Shots - Look at for number four below.

• Putting - Pick a specific grain of grass, or mark directly on your intended line.

3 - Know Your Carry Distances

This might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how many weekend golfers brag about a 280-yard drive that included a 70-yard bounce down a cart path. When you're standing on the tee or in the fairway, you need to know how far the ball flies in the air.

The difference between a good shot and a great shot is often understanding your aerial game. Roll is a factor and it's heavily dependent on course conditions (firm vs. soft, uphill vs. downhill). If you're consistently flying your 7-iron 150 yards, that's your number, regardless of how much it rolls out. This is crucial for clearing hazards, carrying bunkers, or stopping the ball close to the hole.

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Virtually every tour pro knows their numbers down to the yard. They often discuss their "stock" yardages – the distance they expect the ball to fly with a smooth, controlled swing.

• Practice with a Purpose: Instead of just swinging away, take your range session seriously. Pick a target, hit twenty shots with each club, and note where they land. Use a rangefinder if available, or even better, a launch monitor (many modern ranges have them).

4. Play for the Middle of the Green

Are you a flag-hunter? Stop it. Seriously. Unless you're vying for a PGA Tour card, aiming directly at every pin, especially those tucked behind bunkers or close to water, is a surefire way to rack up bogeys and worse. This is classic course management the middle of the green is your largest target. By aiming there, you dramatically increase your chances of hitting the green, giving yourself a look at a two-putt par. Missing the green means chipping, pitching, or sand shots – all of which are statistically harder to convert into a par than a two-putt.

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Listen to any post-round interview with a top player, especially after a major championship. They'll talk about "playing smart," "taking what the course gives them," and "not chasing pins."

• Visualize the target as if it is in the center of the green. When you're choosing your club, don't imagine the green; think middle and be specific. Think small, like a flag.

These four tips aren't complex, but they are powerful. Implement them in your practice and on the course, and you'll quickly see a difference in your game. Stop overthinking and start playing smarter.