April 20, 2009 -- Check out two numbers regarding Brian Gay's dominant performance at the 2009 Verizon Heritage: Number 72 in Driving Distance -- and no. 1 in Scrambling

Brian Gay's scrambling percentage for the week: 91.67%. That's not a typo. Most players can claim an excellent round of golf when they only make two bogeys. Gay only made two bogeys -- for the entire week!

Brian's Scrambling Stat separated himself from the field average by almost 30% { 91.67 compared to field average of 62.07 . He missed only 33% of the GIR which is an incredible 23 greens. He successfully got up and down for par or better 21 times. (Scrambling Statistic is the percentage of time a player misses the green in regulation but still makes par or better.)

The Harbour Town Golf Links has the smallest greens on the Tour and the pins are sometimes placed four steps from the fringe. But it's not like Brian couldn't find the greens. Gay's greens-in-regulation stat was 72.22% while the field average was 60.83%. But when he did miss, it didn't seem to bother him much.

Brian Gay had a record-breaking week on the greens of Harbour Town. (Photo: Getty Images)

Justin Leonard was in similar position in 2002 when during the final round he missed the first 13 fairways and greens. However, his scrambling ability kept him at even par. His poise and perseverance paid off on the 14th hole finally hitting the par 3 green in regulation and getting par. The 15th hole and tight par 5 he was on the green in 3 and made his birdie putt to which turned his momentum to a positive direction to secure his win.

So to repeat, I am saying he did not get up and down only twice in the 72 holes. Absolutley incredible!!!

"It was just an unbelievable day," said Gay, who never peeked at a leader board all day to check on his standing. "I told myself to keep my head down and keep plugging away.

"You know, a lot of it's trust, believing in yourself, confidence," Gay said. "It's a lot of mental, it's a lot of experience, learning golf courses. I think I'm a different player than way back."

How do you improve your scrambling to keep your scores low?

In an interview after the 3rd round, Brian said ,"It was tough just trying to make par, you know, because I wasn't shooting at the flags and I had a bunch of 30-footers trying to two putt," Gay recalled. "It's not that easy"

Knowing where to place the ball for the pin position is key to securing par, preventing bogeys and giving yourself opportunities for birdies. Missing the green in the correct place is more important than hitting the green.

What can we learn?:

• An uphill up grain chip or pitch can be easier than a downhill and down grain putt.
• Shortsiding yourself leaves high risk shot options and creates a lots of stress
• Longsiding yourself leaves many shot options and keeps your stress level low
• Kip Henly Gays caddy, and winner of the Big break and former employee at Harbor Town kept him calm and reassured his decisions
• Expect the best and prepare for the worst
• Watch the PGA tour players as they practice on Monday , Tuesday and Wednesday
• They are planning to hit the green near the pin - however they are saying "what if"
• What if I hit the ball here and the pin is there. Then practice from the odd lies and conditions until they are prepared for any condition
• Learn from history. Boo Weekley chipped in twice on the 71st and 72 holes on his way to the 2008 Heritage Championship
• Your practice time will be most effective if you give your wedges and putter 65% of your time
• Physical stamina - Brian's stamina also separated his score from the field. A good mind has to be carried by strong legs and core. His friends say they pull him out of the gym.
• Know your Shortgame Fundamentals below:

Chipping
• Putting stroke with the club you choose.
• Two changes:
1.) Lean your weight on forward foot. Ball position mid stance for most shots.
2.) Move ball back for lower trajectory and forward for higher trajectory.
• Priority is to land the ball on the first two steps of the green and let it roll like a putt.
1.) 7 iron- 1/3 air, 2/3 roll
2.)Pitching wedge- ½ air, ½ roll
3.)Minimize air time and maximize ground time

Chipping Drills
• Bumping the Ground- feel the club bump the ground
• Clip the Tee (Harvey Penick)- when you swing down the ball goes up

Pitching
• Initiate the backswing with the shoulders and soft hands.
1.) This allows the wrist to hinge naturally as needed.
2.)The hinge promotes hire trajectory and increased backspin

• The downswing is initiated by the core muscles unwinding and carrying the shoulders, arms, hands and club.
• The club meets the ball on the downswing and the momentum brings the club to the finish position.
• The Pendulum Pace is accelerating at a very consistent and repeatable rate creating more consistent shots.
1.)Effortless power
2.)Ask yourself which is more predictable your athletic ability or gravity?

Pitching Drills

• Raise Arms to Side- let them free fall, change height of arms, compare force
• Make a divot after the ball
• Squash the Bug- right knee to inside of left knee, lower body leads the downswing for the over 50 golfer
• Single Scissor Grip- for the righty -right index finger and thumb over the top of the grip to fix the control freak and tight grip
• Lay your golf bag on the ground 4 feet in front of ball and pitch over - making a divot

In Between Distances

• Know your distance for your full swing pitching wedge and sand wedge
• How to regulate the in between distances (20,25,30....55,60,65 yards)
1-Grip position- lower takes away distance and increases control
2-Length of backswing determined by the amount of opened stance
3-Weight Transfer- as the distance increases, increase the weight transfer

Sand

• Know your skill level

The basic uses the same technique as the pitch with the following points.

• Soft hands
• Open stance and slightly open clubface
• When you open your stance it helps to regulate backswing and encourage the lower body to lead on the downswing
• Regulate the distance of the shot by the amount of sand taken and the length of backswing
• Draw the #9 in the sand and blast the sand out of the circle
• Use the bounce
• Serve a drink for more trajectory and backspin

Sand Thoughts

• Sand is my friend- understand how it helps you
• Like water, hit down and water splashes up
• Advanced players can use advanced technique
• Golf is a game of opposites
• When executed correctly the clubhead slices thru sand like a knife thru warm butter
• Plugged lies to run: Close face and swing down deep
• Plugged lies to stop: Open face and swing down deep

Flop Shot

• Weight on back foot, butt of the grip back of zipper, weak grip, longer swing, feel clubhead pass the hands through impact with little to no weight transfer.
• Be wise when to use this.
• Risk to Reward Ratio.

Bump and Run

• Weight on forward foot which moves hands forward.
• Imagine where you want to land the ball at the base of the slope.
• Club selection is key.
• See it feel it and trust it

More Thoughts

• Build your game from hole to tee and find victory
• "Socialize with good putters" Harvey Penick
• Confidence can be learned
• Golf is simpler than many make it

• Golf is a game of opposites
• The harder you try, the worse you do
• When you swing down the ball goes up
• When you feel out of control, you are in control
• If you look up the ball goes down
• If you swing up the ball goes down
• 1 Swing, 14 Clubs

Key to improving your golf game

• Know the game of golf and do not guess at it. There is a common thread that weaves thru all of golf and when you experience it, feel it and trust it. You are on your way to enjoying golf more and on the path to reaching your potential and personal goals
• Improving your Shortgame 5 % will improve your driver 10%
• Harvey Penick taught us to eat dinner with good putters
• This means be creative and positive

Enjoy scrambling

Former PGA Tour Pro and US Open record holder, Doug is also a Golf Digest South Carolina Top-Ten Instructor and Golf Magazine Top in the Region Instructor. His daily TV Show and monthly golf tips have made him something of a celebrity on Hilton Head Island. Doug has years of teaching experience under his belt, and has played and practiced with Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen, Tom Watson, Payne Stewart, Fred Funk and many others. Let Doug show you what he's learned! He can be reached at pgaweaver@aol.com