Thomas Bjørn's Bunker: Get It Out First, Then Breathe

In the final round of the 2003 Open at Royal St George's, Thomas Bjørn led with three holes to play. On the par-3 16th his tee shot rolled into a greenside bunker, and it took him three swings to get out. He finished one shot behind Ben Curtis. The beginner lesson: in the sand, "out" is a win, and a calm breath comes before every swing.

Even the greats: one bunker, three swings

Bjørn, from Denmark, had played beautiful golf all week. He'd been runner-up at the Open before and looked ready for his first major.

On 16, his tee shot drifted just right of the flag, caught the slope and rolled into the bunker. The lie wasn't bad. His first try reached the green and rolled back down into the sand. So did his second. His third, the hardest of the three, finished close, and he holed the putt for a double bogey.

He dropped another shot on 17 and finished tied for second with Vijay Singh, one behind Curtis, a PGA Tour rookie playing his first major.

What Bjørn said afterward is worth reading slowly: "You have to be totally ready, mentally. It came too fast." And then: "You live with it and you move on." That's a world-class player being honest about nerves, and choosing the next shot over the last one.

Your first-nine lesson: out first, then breathe

Bunkers feel scary at first. They don't have to be.

Make "out" the whole goal. Anywhere on the green, or even just out of the sand, counts as a good shot. Our bunker guide walks through the simple setup with your 56°.
Aim for the big part of the green. Give yourself room so the ball doesn't trickle back toward the sand.
Slow down before you swing. Bjørn said it came too fast. One practice swing outside the bunker and one easy breath can help. Our first tee nerves guide has more calm-down ideas that work anywhere on the course.
Still in the sand? It's OK. On a casual round, you can toss it out, write down a number, and keep the fun going.

With The First 9 Method (a putter, a 52° and a 56° plus an alignment stick), your 56° is your sand friend. The first nine is where you learn that one bunker never decides the day. The next shot is all that matters.

Thomas Bjørn's Bunker: Get It Out First, Then Breathe

Even the greats: one bunker, three swings

Your first-nine lesson: out first, then breathe

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