These 3 shots around the greens will be key at AIG Women’s Open

When golfers come to St Andrews, there are certain shots they need to master, particularly around the Old Course’s vast putting surfaces.

If you’ve played the venue for this week’s AIG Women’s Open before, you’ll know how difficult it can be to get your ball down in two if you find yourself a long way from the hole, even if you’re not in one of the fearsome bunkers that lie around the links.

For that reason, players are spending a lot of time during practice rounds on the greens at the Home of Golf, getting a feel for the speed and breaks of the putting surfaces.

Those at the top of the leader board this week will need to perform well around the greens, and there’s three shots that hopefuls are preparing to use.

• 1. The lag putt

It sounds obvious, but lag putting on any links course is going to be crucial. Nowhere is that a bigger factor than on the Old Course. If you find yourself at the wrong side of one of the double greens here, you could be faced with a putt of 100 feet or even more.

Not only that, but from tight lies around the greens, sometimes the putter is the best option. For those who play most of their golf in the USA, putting from 30 yards isn’t something they’ll encounter often, but they had better get used to it quickly in Scotland.

• 2. The bump and run

Those who play links golf regularly know how important this shot is, but it’s not something American based players will look to too often.

If you’re faced with a steep slope to get over, this shot can be perfect, especially if you’re a long way from the hole.

• 3. The fairway wood/hybrid chip

This is a shot that a lot of amateurs might be scared to add to their game, but don’t be surprised to see it regularly this week.

For a start, hybrids and high lofted fairway woods are much more prevalent in the women’s professional game, and they’re not just perfect for towering shots into par-5s.

Again, this can be perfect for getting the ball travelling with pace up a steep slope. It’s also useful if you find yourself in a tight lie around the green, where the chance of blading or duffing a wedge comes into play.

Whoever can master all three of these shots, or even just play one of them particularly well, is going to have a great chance at glory on Sunday.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor