Barry Plummer
As a big Sergio Garcia fan, I can never resist the chance to watch him work his magic on the golf course. Despite disappointingly missing out at the Open Final Qualifying this week, Sergio Garcia has been playing some great golf – finishing runner-up on LIV Golf twice this season.
His 2017 Masters victory is still one of my favourite golf memories, and I can still recall being overawed by his short-game sorcery around the tricky greens at Augusta National. So, despite the fact we wont be seeing Sergio at Royal Troon later this month, I decided to embrace a brief nostalgic journey through time.
In this article, and thanks to the incredible depth of the Golf Monthly archives, Sergio Garcia discussed his memories of Augusta National and shared his top tips for improving your short game with two shots he utilised on his way to famously winning the Green Jacket...
The Smooth Lob Wedge
A lot of players carded double- bogeys (or higher) at the 2017 Masters. I was lucky – bogey was my worst score all week, and the one I made on the 10th on Sunday felt more like a par.
After hitting my approach into the pine straw right of the green, I had one option: a soft lob. It’s a shot I learned as a little kid. There’s no better way to get the ball up and stop it quickly from short range.
The lob I hit on the 10th rolled out a bit, because the green was running away from me, but it was close enough for a manageable up-and-down.
In terms of technique, it’s easy. First, open the clubface as much as you can. Open your stance, too – just make sure the clubface points at your target.
Once you’re set, take the club back slowly – a fast backswing destroys tempo. As you transition into your downswing, smoothly accelerate through the ball. Think ‘calm speed, full swing’. And don’t quit on it!
Keep your hips over your toes. The less you sway on both your backswing and downswing, the greater your odds of crisp contact. Although it’s a short shot, you need decent speed and full commitment to launch the ball high enough to get that nice, soft landing you’re after.
The 'Bite And Spin' Wedge
The easiest way to make more putts is to knock the ball closer to the pin, especially with your wedges and short irons. The key is to get the ball to ‘bite’ and spin back – or at least hold its ground.
After all, you can’t get close if your shots run out well past the pin. On my first hole on Sunday at The Masters in 2017, I left my 133-yard approach just five feet from the hole, then made the birdie putt. And I hit my approach nice and tight on the 18th hole, thanks to lot of ball-controlling spin.
Crisp, clean contact is critical bite-and-spin wedge shots, and starts by keeping your body stable. At the top of your swing, your upper body must be over the ball, just as it was at set-up. I see a lot of weekend players sway to the left or right as they swing.
That’s not how you add wedge spin – that’s how you thin it. Keep your chest over the ball well into your downswing. You want ball-first contact and then a healthy divot, and it helps to have your upper body centered above your contact point.
And take healthy swings. Give it a good whack, making sure the club reaches top speed through impact, not before. Time it right and the grooves of the clubface will grab the ball, creating the friction you need.
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