Q: My practice round scores have been steady, but I played really well in two tournaments. My Handicap Index went way down. What gives?

A: Anyone can have one great tournament round, but to have two or more indicates that a golfer's potential is better than his or her handicap. That's why the USGA implemented Section 10-3, which identifies tournament scores with a "T." If you beat your handicap by at least three strokes in two or more T rounds during a l2-month period, your handicap is adjusted by using those two T scores (plus a correction factor), rather than using only your best 10 of the last 20 scores. For more information, go to usga.org.

By DEAN KNUTH, Golf Digest Contributing Editor. Knuth, the former senior director of the USGA handicap department, invented today's Course Rating and Slope system.