Ian Woosnam golf tips...

The Shots to Win at Augusta - And how you can play them...

By Ian Woosnam

Swing Setup

06 April 2009 12:31

Ian Woosnam, former Masters champion and world No.1, shares the secrets of taming Augusta National – and reveals how you can add these key shots to your game.

Hitting The Draw Off The Tee

If you want to do well at Augusta, a powerful and reliable draw off the tee is an absolute must. I’ve always hit a nice high draw, which for the Masters was perfect, though with the modern equipment it’s very hard to not hit dead straight! A hole like the 10th is really demanding and you’ve got to nail the draw or else you’re in the trees. Here’s how I do it.

Before you start

I was always taught to tee up on the side of where the trouble is. If you want to hit a draw, like at the 10th, where it’s so bloody tight and you really have to whip it round, you have to get far right on the tee to help get round the corner.

Stand tall

Maintaining height is crucial for any shot, but when you’re trying for a wide, low arc it’s essential to keep your head still.

Rotate your arms

Rolling the hands over to release the clubhead helps maximise the distance on the shot and ensure the draw. It should feel like a
shot you might play in squash or tennis.

Set-up

For me, this is the most important part – it’s all about the stance and the ball position rather than anything complicated like toeing the club in. I aim the clubface where I want the ball to finish and the feet and shoulders out to the right. Take it away on the inside and simply swing along the line of the feet.

Eyes right

I try to look at the back of the ball as it promotes a wide swing, brings the hips forward and makes me come in shallower.

High or low

For a low draw, move the ball back in your stance (above); for more height go forwards. It’s about keeping it simple.

Tee height

Wind puts the gust into Augusta; I work around it by teeing it higher downwind and lower, to penetrate, when hitting into it.

Top tip

Swing within yourself at all times. If you have missed the fairway, be realistic about what you can do from the rough. The average body is not supple enough to swing as hard as Tiger. I see so many amateurs hit their ball in the rough and stride in holding a 3-wood when I’m thinking 9-iron.