I live across the street from the course, so I walked over for a practice round to get a taste of how some of the best in the world prepare for the PGA Tour’s first designated event.

Morikawa rolled these three footers for a while, before he hit the range to warm up for the practice round. I followed Morikawa once he teed off alongside Beau Hossler, Xander Schaffele, and David Lipsky. I noticed he was putting an emphasis on short game. He chipped from many angles on No. 3 green, and was paying attention to how the ball was reacting and moving.

The bottom line? It’s easy to pound balls on the range and work on your ball-striking, but around the greens is what really matters in the end. Putting is what places the ball in a hole, and chipping helps you to clean up your score.

Thomas started by chipping with his dad, Mike Thomas, PGA Coach. He was also filming his form. Mike would pull Justin aside every few shots to help him with his chipping and give him some tips. They moved to the bunker and I was able to see Justin take at most 20 shots of the same bunker shot. Mike would still film occasionally, and Justin was sometimes pulled over to observe his form.

Thomas continued to practice on the sand at the golf course. I watched him hit some from a fairway bunker at 18 that has a very narrow landing area with bunkers on either side. The 18th’s fairway bunker seemed like the place to be, because Morikawa made his way to that same exact spot during his practice round.

It is much easier to play golf from the fairway. You can also practice the shots that occur when your ball does not touch the fairway. Next time you’re out practicing, drop some balls in the heavy rough, bunker, pine straw, a divot — you name it. These shots will reduce the shock factor when your ball reaches the shortgrass.

Its not hard to do what the PGA Champions do.