‘Advice from a Master’... "If You Want to Break 80 in Golf"

Golf.com LPGA Tour Top Players' Advice
Ko Da Practice Stick Use and Creativity Training
Thompson Always Set Goals and Improve
Lydia Ko Identify Mistakes First

Once you break 100 strokes, you tend to linger around 90 strokes. After surpassing the 90s, you take a 'long stay' in the 80s. This is golf. Golf.com in the U.S. addressed the concerns of a 16-year-old male golfer stuck in the mid-to-late 80s. To learn the secret to entering the 70s, he went the extra mile. On the 21st (local time), the top golfers participating in the CME Group Tour Championship (total prize money $11 million), the final event of the 2024 LPGA Tour season, shared tips on breaking into the 80s.

Nelly Korda

First, advice from world No. 1 Nelly Korda (USA). She is the strongest player this year, sweeping 7 wins and leading in prize money, Player of the Year, and most wins. She has accumulated 15 career victories. Korda first recommended putting down the club at the practice range before taking shots. "Most golfers never put their clubs down at the range. They hit shots without knowing where they are aiming. It is important to set a clear target and practice accordingly." She also emphasized creative practice. Calling golf a "creative game," she said, "Depending on wind and weather conditions, you need shots suited to the situation. You must train in various ways at the practice range."

Lexi Thompson (USA), a representative long hitter on the tour, also chimed in. She has 11 career wins, including one major championship. She announced her retirement after this tournament. She said, "You must always train with a goal in mind. Golf is a mental sport," adding, "Just hitting balls or playing rounds won't lead to improvement. You need to set goals and find areas to improve. This way, practice can be productive without wasting time."

Lydia Ko

Lydia Ko (New Zealand) advised analyzing the reasons for scoring in the 80s. She is a "golf prodigy" who won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics this year and became the youngest inductee into the Hall of Fame. She has won 3 times this season and collected 22 career trophies. Ko explained, "Scoring in the 80s means there were holes with double bogeys. Mistakes happen repeatedly," adding, "You just need to identify the key factors causing those mistakes. Then the problem can naturally be resolved."

Allie Young (USA) suggested moving the tee box. He said, "After breaking into the 80s, it's good to move the tee box back. You should consistently move back and keep challenging yourself." Inruning (China), a rising star on the LPGA Tour, emphasized focusing on the short game and putting. She has won 3 times in the 2024 season and climbed to No. 3 in the world rankings. She stressed, "The place where you spend the most time on the golf course is around the green. If you want to break 80, you need to invest time in putting."

Jino Titikun (Thailand) highlighted confidence. He is the winner of this year's Risk-Reward Challenge. Debuting on the LPGA Tour in 2022, he has 3 wins. He won the Bear Trophy (lowest scoring average) last year, demonstrating remarkable consistency. He said, "Golf is really difficult. It is a sport that requires confidence," adding, "It is important not to fear failure. When you have confidence and take risks, rewards can follow."