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Bryson DeChambeau clinched the U.S. Open with a superb shot from the bunker on the 18th gap.
Getty Pictures
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When Bryson DeChambeau‘s ball scurried into the bunker guarding Pinehurst No. 2’s 18th inexperienced, it seemed just like the 124th U.S. Open would want a playoff to resolve a champion.
The lengthy bunker shot has lengthy been deemed essentially the most troublesome shot in golf — and round Pinehurst No. 2, issues get even trickier. Getting the ball to cease close to the outlet on the turtleback greens is hard from the green lower, not to mention out of the sand. Add within the strain of the 72nd gap of a U.S. Open and it seemed all however sure DeChambeau would make bogey and power further holes.
Then, his caddie, Greg Bodine, stepped in with some advice.
“[He told me], ‘You are able to do it,’” DeChambeau mentioned. “‘You bought this shot. I’ve seen manner more durable photographs pulled off from you.’”
Bodine was proper. Moments later, DeChambeau stepped up and hit what he known as the “shot of his life.” The ball rolled up inside 5 ft of the cup, and his second U.S. Open title was all however secured.
How was DeChambeau in a position to pull off such a troublesome shot in such an enormous second? As a result of he’d practiced photographs like that a whole bunch of occasions earlier than.
Management your distance from the sand
The toughest a part of getting bunker photographs near the outlet is controlling your distance. The margin for error within the sand is skinny, and a fraction of an inch may be the distinction between a makable putt and leaving it within the bunker. Nonetheless, for those who comply with DeChambeau’s recommendation, you may make controlling your distance from the sand a little bit simpler.
Initially, you’ve received to remain dedicated. Meaning ensuring you swing arduous on the ball to hit the correct shot. Subsequent, that you must enter the sand behind the ball to blast it out and on to the inexperienced.
“Three or 4 inches behind the ball,” DeChambeau says. “I’m actually going to attempt to enter that far behind with an open face.”
How far open ought to the face be? Properly, all of it depends upon how far you need the ball to go. In order for you the ball to go a bit of bit additional, sq. up the face, and as you attempt to take off increasingly distance, open the face increasingly.
“Being aggressive with a semi-open face is crucial factor,” DeChambeau says.
Manipulating the loft of the membership is one of the simplest ways to regulate your distance on these difficult bunker photographs. Opening the face will shoot the ball out greater and with much less distance, whereas a extra sq. face gives you a bit of extra distance.
“You wanna be sure to’re hitting three inches behind the ball every time,” DeChambeau says. “However make the loft management distance and peak.”
We are able to’t assure you’ll win a U.S. Open for those who comply with the following tips, nevertheless it ought to make you a greater bunker participant within the meantime.
