[RSAccountssy]

+1 to what james said.

For example, my wife is also a new golfer, with 2 years under her belt at this point, and about at your level. She still thinks most about how she hits balls out in the fairway as to whether or not she plays well. However, we compared scorecards between us (I'm a 14 handicap at present) a few times while tracking shots, and the biggest difference was putting and short game. I usually average in the low thirties for putts/round, and she was 40+. I can usually get my short game shots much closer, giving me a chance at makeable putts.

For myself, I've long held that how I feel about particular round usually depends on how I hit off the tee. How I score depends on how I chip/pitch and putt. Major variables like my occasional rashes or wildness and shots in woods-lakes-OB enter into it of course.