Taking Down Fairway Bunkers

Pick it clean every time.

- Tony Finau

The fairway bunker shot I’m playing here took place on the South Course at Torrey Pines in the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open in February. I remember it well because the view is so beautiful—and it turned out great with the ball ending up on the green, about 20 feet below the hole. This shot, on the par-4 fourth, is longer than it looks—a full 170 yards—but it’s easier to play than you might think. You can see I have a good lie, the lip isn’t too high, and the sand is nice and firm. I played it almost like a normal shot from the fairway, but with a couple of adjustments. When you have a shot like