For most amateurs, whether they be higher handicappers or scratch players, the sand shot is among the most intimidating in golf.
PGA Tour players, on the other hand, often relish sand shots. Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez, for instance, want to be in the bunkers if they miss the green. Olazabal ranks first on the PGA Tour in sand saves, and Jimenez is second.
| _____Kemper Open '02_____
• There's a new generation of often-fearless players who many believe will some day rise up and challenge Tiger Woods.
• The 2001 Kemper Open will be remembered as a turning point for three golfers.
• John Feinstein: For players on the brink of the top 125 of the PGA’s money list, the Kemper Open presents a lifetime of opportunity.
• With lots of planning, Pete Cleeves aims for a glitch-free event.
• Make the most of your Avenel experience with these helpful hints.
• Players to watch
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"PGA Tour players love the bunkers at Avenel," said Steve Bosdosh, a former teaching professional at the TPC course in Potomac. "The firm conditions allow them to spin the ball and control it better than soft, fluffy sand or the thick rough."
According to Bosdosh, good bunker play results largely from the setup. Place the ball slightly forward in your stance, enabling your most lofted wedge to hit behind the ball. Most players also will widen their stance, dig in for firm footing and lean slightly forward to shift weight to the front foot.
From there, make a rhythmic swing as if hitting a pitch shot from the rough. Swing through to the finish, leaving your body facing the target.
"Try to accomplish this with as little tension in your body as you can," Bosdosh said. "Your club will contact the sand about under your sternum, so keep the ball forward of that point. The weight will angle your swing a little more vertical to ensure the club bottoms out close behind the ball."
For every day of this week's Kemper Open, Steve Bosdosh, the head teaching professional at Four Streams Golf Club in Beallsville, Md., will be sharing advice on what amateur golfers can learn from watching the professionals.
