Tinker
I think at some point, especially at that level, you block out everything, whether it's blind shots or tucked pins, and swing the club, simply trying to get from point A to point B. These guys, all of them inside the top 125, can hit the shots. Most of them hit the ball a long ways. It's how they respond to the pressure of the moment that distinguishes them from all the rest. A tucked pin from 200 yards on Thursday - you'll see guys take that pin on more times than not. But come Sunday, with a 1-shot lead? They ain't going at that tucked pin.
There are a lot of situational scenarios that have to be factored in, regardless of whether a guy can confidently work the ball both ways or not. Then you add the additional aspect of adrenaline kicking in, and then on top of all that - it's all predicated on being able to make a decent swing and hitting that third groove on the iron that catches it flush.
It's why I admire guys like Jim Furyk and Zach Johnson. They're giving up 30-40 yards off the tee to some of the top players today and yet they've somehow managed to remain relevant despite that enormous distance gap.
What has allowed those guys to stay relevant, imo, is their ability to know their games to the point where they know which pins to take on, which pins to avoid, and then - on top of all that - also knowing how far they can carry the ball with all their clubs.
I'm not saying I'm jumping on the Bryson bandwagon, but you can't help but be impressed with how well he's done his first couple of seasons, despite his eccentric approach to the game. He's a point A to point B player. Other guys, like Dustin Johnson, just get up there and hit it as far as they can off the tee, then take dead-aim at the flagstick. And that will likewise win them some tournaments as well.
There are a lot of different ways to skin a cat, as the old saying goes.
But putting is the difference maker. When Bryson putts well - he does well. Same can be said of Spieth, Rose, DJ, Koepka, etc.