\t\t\t\tEven Rory McIlroy admits that his short game practice can sometimes be risky business\u2026<\/p>\n
Golf fans have been fortunate to glean copious insight from Rory McIlroy during a professional career which has now spanned two decades. <\/p>\n
The Masters<\/a> champion is as erudite when discussing his technical thoughts as he is candid about his mental processes when performing in high-pressure environments, which he is why he\u2019s always been such a compelling figure to both watch and cover. <\/p>\n McIlroy has also been on hand to give amateur pro-am partners some much-needed course management advice<\/a>, insisting that a certain amount of restraint will knock shots off your score. <\/p>\n \u201cSometimes it\u2019s just they try to take shots on or they try to hit a shot that they probably could pull off once or twice out of 10 instead of playing a little bit more percentage,\u201d he said last year. \u201cThat\u2019s boring, but that\u2019s certainly the most effective way to lower your score.\u201d<\/p>\n Other times, however, McIlroy will do things that reminds us just how deep the chasm is between the elite pros and even the more proficient amateur golfers. His chip on the 6th hole during his fine opening round at the Genesis Invitational<\/a> at Riviera Country Club was a case in point. <\/p>\n McIlroy found the green on the long par-3, but had erred so far right with his iron shot that he was stymied by the bunker awkwardly positioned in the middle of the putting surface. He took out a wedge, spinning his ball from over the flag to just inside four feet and holing out for a wonderful save. <\/p>\n It was a brutal shot made to look so effortless. But as often in these situations, the devil was in the detail. Chipping from the greens is nothing new for McIlroy during his practice routines.<\/p>\n \u201cI really like tight lies,\u201d he explained to reporters afterwards. \u201cI practice my chipping a lot off greens back home. It really helps me control the low point and find the low point. If you can chip off a really tight lie or a green like that you can basically chip off any lie so I duo a lot of practice chipping off practice green at The Bears Club [in Jupiter, Florida].\u201d<\/p>\n McIlroy then allowed a wry smile. <\/p>\n \u201cThe super intendent probably doesn\u2019t like it too much,\u201d he said, \u201cbut it helps.\u201d <\/p>\n Even McIlroy knows the impact of chipping on his carpet-like greens at the prestigious Bears Club, and he is so skilled that he virtually just kisses the ground through impact. Not like many of us mortals who tend to carve up the land when presented with a tight lie around the greens. <\/p>\n So, on this rare occasion, it\u2019s advisable not to copy the career Grand Slam winner. At the very least you might end up with a seriously unhappy greenkeeper if it doesn\u2019t go to plan. And it\u2019s certainly not worth risking getting marched out of your golf club for unduly damaging the putting surfaces, either.<\/p>\n