WATCH: Phil Mickelson drops a surprising truth bomb about putting every average golfer needs to hear

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We all know the importance of a solid cut and quality finish.

For professionals the ability to save value when greens are missed and two putts from distance is essential to maintain momentum.

But for the average golfer this is of little or no importance anymore.

Sure, we’d like to scratch and two-putt but we also want to make sure we’re taking a minimum of three shots in those situations (while completing the task twice at most).

In this video Phil Mickelson uses math to show what age-old golfers have been emphasizing.

Because he explains how important it is to get within three feet with those chips and those first putts.

“With three feet we can make 97 to 100 putts,” said the six-time major champion, referring to the PGA Tour pros.

But get this: the numbers are dropping at a staggering rate.

“If we go back just one foot to four feet,” Mickelson explained, “that percentage drops to less than 90.”

“And if we go back another 12 inches to five feet, that percentage drops to 75%.

“And at six meters it goes down to 55%.

“We need to get every putt and every chip in this circle,” he concluded, pointing to the three-footer.

Obviously it would be ridiculous for average golfers and handicappers to believe they can hit the three-footer more often than not.

But there are lessons to be learned here.

Firstly it also highlights the importance of spending more time on pitching, chopping and long putting.

But it also allows the average golfer to stop beating themselves.

Too often we believe we have to make every six-foot putt. But these numbers remind us that the world’s best golfers make only a few more than they miss.

WATCH: Sir Nick Faldo’s great tip to help intermediate golfers save shots around the green