The shots that will win The Open: 3
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Get out of nightmare bunker lies
When you’re on a downslope, the trajectory of the ball will always be slightly lower. With the steep riveted face of the bunker in front of us, we’ve got to overcome that and get the ball up quickly. Get this shot right and you will be looking at a putt to save par. Get it wrong and you’re likely to be right up against the face for your next shot, facing a double bogey or worse. This one shot could make a difference of three shots, which could win or lose you The Open.
Twist your feet
With an uneven stance, there’s a greater risk of slipping and losing your footing, which will lead to a poor contact. Widen your stance and screw your feet into the sand, giving you a firm footing and confidence to make an aggressive swing.
Put the ball forward
This gives you room to get the club into the sand and under the ball. Put 65% of your weight on your left foot – this encourages a steeper angle of attack, which is vital for getting enough elevation, and allows the club to shallow its arc through impact.
Stay low through the shot
The tendency will be for you to stand up to see where the ball went. As soon as that happens, you’ll thin the ball into the face of the bunker. Stay low and strike down through the sand, even beyond the ball.
