Keith Mitchell wowed golf fans with an impressive “Thai spinner” bunker shot at the 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open. This shot occurred during Thursday’s opening round at Memorial Park when Mitchell found himself in a tricky situation in a back-right greenside bunker. Despite the challenges he faced, Mitchell executed the Thai spinner shot flawlessly, spinning the ball up the slope and almost holing out. This shot, which he described as one of the best shots of his life, left both him and fans amazed.
The Thai spinner shot, named after Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, involves hitting the ball first instead of hitting the sand. Mitchell explained that this goes against the common rule for bunker shots, which is to hit the sand first. In this particular scenario, with water on one side and a lip behind him, hitting the sand was not an option for Mitchell. Instead, he had to hit the ball first to generate low, hot spin that allowed the ball to stop on the green without rolling into the water. While Mitchell had not practiced this shot extensively, he had experimented with it for fun, ultimately deciding to use it in this critical moment.
Impressed with his own execution of the Thai spinner shot, Mitchell shared a video of the shot on his Instagram page. This post garnered comments from other PGA Tour pros who recognized the difficulty and skill required to pull off such a shot. Mitchell’s ability to execute a shot that many of his peers had not attempted showcased his creativity and adaptability on the course. Moving forward in the tournament, Mitchell began the third round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open in a strong position, tied for ninth place at seven under par.
As a senior managing producer for GOLF.com, Kevin Cunningham oversees the publication of stories, newsletters, and the development of new products for the brand. His coverage of Mitchell’s impressive Thai spinner shot at the 2025 Texas Children’s Houston Open highlighted the golfer’s skill and ingenuity in navigating challenging situations on the course. This shot not only impressed fans but also earned recognition from Mitchell’s fellow PGA Tour players, who understood the difficulty and uniqueness of the Thai spinner shot. Mitchell’s ability to adapt and innovate under pressure showcased his talent and creativity as a professional golfer.
