Rory McIlroy shares easy technique for 2 types of bunker shots

Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you play smarter, better golf.

The final men’s major of the season is upon us. The Open Championship, the oldest of the four majors, heads to Royal Troon this week as the men wrap up the 2024 major season.

Unlike the other three majors, the Open is not played in the U.S., giving golf fans a glimpse of at a different style of golf. Links golf is known for gnarly weather and whipping winds, and whoever prevails this week will have to brave the elements to take home the Claret Jug.

Royal Troon, hosting the Open for the 10th time, is sure to provide a stern test this week. Those who hope to become Champion Golf of the Year will need to navigate not only the elements, but plenty of sand as well. There are around 100 bunkers dotting the landscape at this week’s host site, and whoever proves victorious will need to bring their A-game when finding these hazards.

Effectively escaping bunkers requires different techniques depending on what shot is required, and fans will be reminded of that fact as players navigate Royal Troon this week. For a couple of techniques for escaping bunkers, we turn to 2014 Champion Golfer of the Year Rory McIlroy.

High flight

Sometimes when you’re in the bunker you’ll need to get the ball up in the air quickly in order to escape. Or there might be a ridge on the green you need to carry to get the ball close to the flag. When these situations arise, it’s important to know how to hit a high-flighted bunker shot that stops quickly on the green.

For this shot, McIlroy recommends playing the ball toward the front of your stance. Then make sure the clubface is wide open and that you set up with your hands nice and low. When you make your swing, make sure to release the shaft early and let the clubhead pass your hands at impact.

“The worst thing you can do in a bunker is shaft lean,” McIlroy says. “So trying to deliver that club back to where you set up is really important.”

Low flight

At other times in the bunker, you might need to hit a low shot that runs out a bit. When this happens, you’ll need to use a little different technique than the high-flighted shot.

McIlroy recommends you play this shot with the ball a little further back in your stance. Don’t open up the clubface quite as much as you do for the high-flighted shot and keep your hands a bit higher at setup.

“Still try to keep that club shaft pretty neutral,” McIlroy says. “And then from there try to hit a good two inches behind the ball just to let it come out and release down to the hole.”