Todd Anderson tutorial: Splashing it out like Jordan Spieth

In this tutorial, Anderson breaks down Jordan Spieth’s 18th hole bunker shot during a playoff at the 2022 RBC Heritage where he defeated Patrick Cantlay with a superb par save.

In this tutorial, PGA Tour Performance Center Director of Instruction Todd Anderson breaks down Jordan Spieth’s 18th hole bunker shot during a playoff at the 2022 RBC Heritage where he defeated Patrick Cantlay with a superb par save.

With his ball located near the front lip of a greenside bunker, Spieth had his front foot out of the trap and trail foot in the sand which required all his skills to get up and down for his par and victory.

Setup

Todd Anderson instructional photos were taken at The Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. [PGA TOUR]

When you are in this situation, it is important to create a good stable base. First up, bury your trail foot in the sand and get some good flex in your front knee. Keep the weight on your front side and the key to hitting this shot effectively is to maintain the flex in both knees and your stability in the lower body.

Target and backswing

Todd Anderson instructional photos were taken at The Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. [PGA TOUR]

With the club face open, aim slightly left of the intended target. Then pick the club up, fold your trail elbow and hinge to create a 90-degree angle, while maintaining your weight on the front side.

Impact

Todd Anderson instructional photos were taken at The Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. [PGA TOUR]

Subsequently, let the club go down into the sand with the clubface holding the club face open. You’ll need to drive down into the sand to pop the ball up. One common mistake amongst amateur golfers is that they try to lift the ball up instead of blasting the ball out. You should maintain the flex in the knees and weight on the lead leg, and straighten your trail arm and release the angle you created down into the sand while maintaining an open club face. Hitting down into the sand will force the ball to pop up and out onto the green.

Finish

Todd Anderson instructional photos were taken at The Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. [PGA TOUR]

Depending on the lie, you may not have much of a follow through especially when you’re hitting into the bank, like what Jordan had to do. The energy created when the club drives into the sand will splash the ball out of the bunker and onto the green.

Try this and you’ll probably find yourself in more situations where you will regularly get up and down for pars from greenside bunkers.

Anderson is the Director of Instruction at the PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, home of The Players Championship. The 2010 National PGA Teacher of the Year has seen his students amass more than 50 victories across the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour, including two FedExCup titles. He is currently rated by Golf Digest as one of the top 20 golf instructors in the United States.

BY TODD ANDERSON [kjdsports@joongang.co.kr]