Bunker success with Jimmy Walker

Bunker success with Jimmy Walker

American Ryder Cup winner Jimmy Walker is the master of producing stunning shots from bunkers.

Here is what you can learn from the bunker technique that helped the 37-year-old to his first Major win in the PGA Championship at Baltusrol in July 2016 and Team U.S.A to victory at Hazeltine in September.

Most of us first became aware of Walker in 2014 when he won three times on the PGA Tour and made his Ryder Cup bow at Gleneagles. In fact, he embodies perseverance.

Now aged 37, he turned pro at 22 and spent the first decade of his career jockeying between the Nationwide and PGA Tours.

In 2009 he retained his PGA Tour card for the first time by claiming the 125th and final qualifying position. He hasn’t looked back since.

The final-round bunker shot he holed on Baltusrol’s 10th – which we analyse here – set up a Major victory that is the deserved conclusion to a long journey.

Judging by his relentless progress, it might not be his last.

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1. On the front foot

 Jimmy’s left knee is flexed and soft. This lets him hold weight on his left foot, a key for keeping the low point of the club’s arc constant through impact.

The result is a long, shallow sand divot. A sharp rising angle through the ball cripples bunker shot success and this left knee role helps to soften that.

2. To L and back

 An L-shape is created between Jimmy’s arms and clubshaft, a mirror image of his backswing position.

This rehinging motion reveals great freedom in the wrists, vital if the clubhead is to create and maintain the speed it needs to get through the sand. It also removes any tendency for the arms to try to lift the ball out.

3. Rotary watch

Jimmy’s chest, stomach and head have turn to face the target. Though good bunker technique sees a crisp release of the club with the hands and arms, it’s important that body rotation contributes to the delivery of the club.

It promotes the free-flowing swing that helps retain speed through the sand.

4. Face to face

If Jimmy looked at the clubface on the follow through he’d see it looking squarely back at him. This is a great check that you’ve retained clubface loft, vital for creating loft as well as using the bounce on the back of the sole.

If the face looks down at the sand, it reveals a de-lofting that brings the sharp leading edge into play.

Jimmy Walker’s 2016 in numbers

Driving distance: 299.8yds (24th)

Proximity to hole from sand: 8ft 1in (18th)

Strokes gained around the green: .367 (15th)

Scoring average: 70.251 (22nd)

World ranking: 15th