The simple putting drill Rory McIlroy uses to prep for Augusta National

Although Rory McIlroy is focused on this week’s tournament — the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he shot a first-round one-over 73 on Thursday — it’s never too early for the world’s No. 3-ranked player to be thinking about the majors, especially with the Masters only a month away.

Speaking with the media following his first round at Bay Hill Club and Lodge, McIlroy was asked about the importance of having confidence in his putting stroke as he readies for the only major he has yet to win. In short, McIlroy said, it’s crucial, especially having the touch and feel to not only make putts but also “seeing putts go in the hole the correct way.”

“Leading up to Augusta, a lot of your work on the greens will be more to do with speed,” he said. “Dropping the ball in on the high side of the hole. Trying to make these big breaking putts.”

Putting

To get his mind (and stroke) in the right spot, McIlroy shared a putting drill — actually, he called it a “game” — that he and his putting coach Brad Faxon like to use to prep for Augusta’s slick, sloping greens.

“We both don’t like to call them drills, because that seems like work, and golf is certainly not work,” McIlroy said. “So play these little fun games on the putting green trying to hole putts like above a coin and below a coin and varying the speed of the way the ball goes in the hole.”

Simple enough: If McIlroy is working on dying the ball in over the lip, he’ll roll his putts on the high side of the coin. If he’s trying to eliminate some of the break by hitting the ball firmer, he’ll take a line on the low side of the coin.

“That’s the sort of stuff you need to do at Augusta,” he said. “Just getting more comfortable with that.”

Another ‘spare change’ drill

If you’re trying McIlroy’s game, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Trillium Rose has another useful drill to which you can put a quarter to good use. Check out the video below, which covers how to use loose change to help improve your putting tempo.