Well, golf fans, if you caught the recent TGL action, you witnessed something truly unique: a professional golfer, Xander Schauffele, receiving a mulligan in a high-stakes match! While we certainly don’t get do-overs in our regular rounds (unless you’re playing a very casual friendly, perhaps!), the situation Xander faced in the bunker offers a fantastic teaching moment for all of us, especially when it comes to the mental game and how we approach those challenging bunker shots. Even for top pros, the pressure can get to you, and a “mulligan” doesn’t guarantee a perfect outcome.
The Bunker Blues: Embracing the Challenge
Xander found himself in a right greenside bunker on the 13th hole, a common enough scenario for any of us. What followed was a rare ruling that gave him another crack at it. But as the article highlights, even with that extraordinary second chance, the outcome wasn’t what he hoped for:
“His ball failed to escape the sand… But Schauffele failed to escape the bunker again with his second attempt.”
This tells us one thing: a bunker shot, especially under pressure, demands a clear technique, unwavering commitment, and a strong mental approach. It’s not about magic; it’s about execution. As Xander himself reflected:
“Yeah, it netted out terrible for us… Maybe if I hit it a third time, it would be better.”
While we can’t get a third (or second!) shot, we can certainly improve our first one! In my 15+ years of teaching, from tour players to weekend warriors, I’ve seen countless golfers struggle with bunkers. But I firmly believe anyone can improve with proper instruction and practice. Let’s break down how you can escape those sandy situations with confidence.
Mastering the Greenside Bunker: Your Essential Setup and Swing
The biggest mistake I see golfers make in greenside bunkers is trying to “lift” the ball out. This usually leads to thinning it across the green or, worse, burying the clubface in the sand behind the ball, much like what happened to Xander.
The secret to a great bunker shot lies in using the club’s bounce to slide through the sand underneath the ball, propelling the sand (and the ball) out onto the green. Here’s how:
Open Face, Open Stance: Grab your most lofted club, usually your sand wedge. Open the clubface slightly *before* gripping it. This exposes the bounce. Then, take a stance that’s slightly open to your target line (your body aimed a little left of the target for a right-handed golfer). This allows for a slightly outside-in swing path.
Wiggle Your Feet and Dig In: Dig your feet into the sand a bit. This provides stability and helps you feel how much sand is beneath your feet. It also lowers your swing’s center, ensuring you’ll hit down into the sand.
Weight Forward: Shift approximately 60-70% of your weight onto your front foot and keep it there throughout the swing. This encourages a steep angle of attack and prevents you from hanging back and scooping.
Visualize and Commit: Pick a spot in the sand about 1-2 inches behind the ball. This is where your club needs to enter. Commit to hitting that spot with authority. Don’t decelerate!
The swing itself should be a full, free swing, much like a regular pitch shot, but with that open clubface and forward weight. You are trying to splash out a divot of sand, not just hit the ball. The ball will come along for the ride!
Actionable Drills to Escape the Sand Trap
Here are a couple of drills my students use to master their bunker play:
Drill 1: The “Line in the Sand” Drill
Goal: Improve entry point consistency.
How to do it: Go to a practice bunker. Draw a clear line in the sand. Place a ball on the line. Your goal is to make your club enter the sand directly on that line, about 1-2 inches behind the ball, every time. Don’t worry about where the ball goes initially; focus purely on a consistent entry point. You’ll be surprised how quickly this refines your impact.
Drill 2: The “No Ball” Drill
Goal: Build confidence in splashing sand.
How to do it: In the bunker, place a tee in the sand, or simply identify a spot on the sand. Recreate your perfect bunker setup. Now, make practice swings, focusing on hitting the sand about 1-2 inches behind that spot and taking a consistent divot, without even having a ball there! Listen for the ‘thump’ of the club sliding through the sand. This builds confidence that you can move the sand consistently, which is the key to getting the ball out.
As Wyndham Clark, Xander’s opponent, noted about the rare ruling that granted the mulligan:
“It could have been really controversial.”
Controversies aside, this TGL moment reminds us that golf is a game of skill, nerve, and sometimes, unexpected twists. While mulligans are a rarity for us, a solid bunker technique doesn’t have to be!
;)
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So, get out to the practice bunker, try these drills, and transform your sand game. You’ll be hitting those greenside bunker shots with the confidence of a pro – no mulligan necessary!
