The secret to Scottie Scheffler’s historic season was actually pretty simple – so simple that you could try to do it too. Even if you don’t execute it perfectly like Scheffler did, just attempting this strategy will probably help you shoot lower scores, without changing your swing.

You can dive into the detail in this video:

The Green Zone Strategy

During Scheffler’s incredible run of first, first, second, first, first finishes, including wins at the Players Championship and Masters, I ran an analysis of his 1,353 shots revealed a fascinating pattern. It wasn’t just that Scheffler hit a lot of greens – it was how he hit those greens that separated him from everyone else.

The strategy involves aiming for specific “green zones” – areas on the green opposite from where the pin is located. These zones shift based on pin placement, with “yellow zones” being anywhere else on the green, and “red zones” being the spots off the green nearest to the hole.

Key Lessons for Golfers

1. Don’t fall Into the front-pin trap

When the pin was at the front of the green, Scheffler would hit his ball past the flag more than 60 percent of the time. This disciplined approach led to hitting 82 percent of greens with front pins – 25 percent better than the PGA Tour average. Most golfers make the mistake of going for short pins and coming up short, leaving themselves in the dreaded “red zone”.

2. Find your comfort zone

For Scheffler, front-right pins were his sweet spot. Whether the pin was front-middle, middle-middle, or front-right, he would aim for the same safe area between the middle and front-middle of the green, using his stock fade. This consistency led to remarkable accuracy, with 60-72 percent of his shots landing in this preferred section.

3. Adapt your strategy based on pin position

With left-side pins, which were slightly more awkward for his left-to-right shot shape, Scheffler adjusted by shrinking his target zone. From longer range, he played more safely to his green zones. On closer shots, he would aim slightly more towards the left-centre of his green zone, helping him avoid the short side more than 85 percent of the time.

4. The power of patience

This strategy meant Scheffler often faced longer putts across and up-or-down greens – but that was by design. Instead of chasing short birdie putts, he prioritised giving himself more medium-length opportunities and waited patiently for them to fall. His approach putt performance ranked eighth and third on the PGA Tour in 2023 and 2024.

The strategy isn’t new – Ben Hogan used a similar approach and spoke about it openly. While we may not execute it as well as Scheffler or Hogan, it’s a simple template anyone can follow. As Scottie’s caddie Ted Scott says, let the next shot be your best one.