Learn from the Masters: Sandy Lyle’s bunker shot
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Under the most intense pressure, these four champions held their nerve and conjured up perfection when it mattered most. And it brought them a coveted Green Jacket. Now you can learn from their famous feats and create some winning moments of your own with the help of TG Elite Pro Rob Watts.
Sandy Lyle led the 1988 Masters from midway through the second round… until he bogeyed the 14th hole on Sunday after double-bogeying the 12th. But with a birdie on 16, the Scot grabbed a share of the lead. Pumped up on 18, he ripped his 1-iron tee shot 256 yards into the first of two fairway traps. With a good lie on the upslope, he coaxed a legendary 7-iron to the front edge of the top tier. It trickled back down to five feet and Lyle nudged in the birdie putt for a one-shot victory.
ASSESS THE LIP
On any fairway bunker shot, it’s vital you analyse the height of the lip on your line of play and choose a club that you’re sure will get the ball over it. This will allow you to commit fully to the shot without trying to help the ball up at the last second, which may well compromise the strike.
WEIGHT IN THE TOES
At address, only wiggle your feet in very slightly, flex your knees more than normal and put a little extra body weight in your toes. All these changes help eliminate the lower half, making the motion more of a hands and arms swing, reducing the chance of slipping and clipping the ball cleanly.
FINISH WITH HIGH HANDS
Through impact, adopt more of a ‘thinning’ feeling with a much shallower angle of approach. This will encourage the hands to be higher in the finish. Gripping the club tighter than normal will shorten the forearm muscles, helping to strike the ball cleanly from the top of the sand.
