Richie Ramsay

The four-time DP World Tour winner suggests some simple, practical ways to help you think smarter and play better

- By Mark Townsend

1 LINE UP BETTER

I play with so many amateurs who are not aiming in the right place. They might be hitting it great, but they don't know where they're lining up. I always stand directly behind the ball, walk in and pick a spot three feet in front of it. Then I'll draw a straight line through it in my head.

Sometimes on the range I'll just put a little marker or coin a few feet in front of the ball. It's far easier to line up with a marker that's three feet in front of you than a flag 200 yards away. Tiger does this all the time and you could always see him glancing at a spot just in front of him. It's a very simple thing, but a real fundamental.

2 THINK HYBRID MORE OFTEN

Play more percentages around the greens. I see a lot of amateurs taking on shots that are just too low-percentage. I would say use a hybrid more as it gets you over the first bit of the problem when chipping around the greens. We hear this a lot, but see so little of it. Get in your putting stance and just rock the shoulders.