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'If you want to take shots off your scorecard'' sounds like one of those titles for an uninvited email with the objective of selling you a performance enhancing drug of some sort. But actually it's the start of wise words from almost every golf coach and they are referring to your putting.

It doesn't matter whether you are a scratch, low handicap, middle of the road golfer or an

inexperienced beginner, for most of you the least effort, highest return improvement for your game, will be your putting.

The top Pros who are all seriously good putters know that the difference between also ran in the field and a top 10 finish is: not making mistakes and putting.

They take it very seriously, starting with understanding their current performance. They record the most detailed stats on their game.

For instance Phil Mickelson, leading money winner on the PGA Tour, knows that on average he is making his first putt 29 feet from the hole and that he takes an average of 1.72 putts to get down. That leaves him with 28.2 putts per round.

Tiger isn't having a bad year, but it's not his best. Look at the stats and you'll see that he is taking, on average 1 putt more per round than Phil Mickelson. That's 4 shots over the four days. At the Ciallis Open last year, where first place was worth $900,000, four shots adrift left you in a six way tie for fourth place, a difference of over $ 500,000 in the bank.

For the next few months just record how many putts per round you took and compare it to the best. You may be surprised with how many strokes you take whilst on the greens.

Visit your local PGA Golf Professional for expert advice on all aspects of golf.