Secrets to Links Golf

July 2009
Tom Watson: Strategies for Playing Links Golf
From bracing crosswinds to tumultuous sand dunes -- links courses such as Turnberry's Ailsa Course offer a wide-variety of challenges. Here's a collection of the best advice from British Open champions and Golf Digest playing editors on battling a links course.

Long-putting drill

Tips Plus video: Rick Smith

Don't be in a rush to hit long putts. Here's one of Rick Smith's favorite lag-putting drills to help you slow down those putts.

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How to escape deep rough

Tips Plus video: Jim McLean

Tips on how to handle deep rough from the No. 4 ranked teacher on Golf Digest's list of America's 50 Greatest Teachers.

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Getting out of the rough

Tips Plus video: Tiger Woods

Controlling the clubface is equally important on long and short shots. When pitching from the high stuff, the secret is to keep the face from closing through impact.

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Making short putts

Tips Plus video: David Leadbetter

How to sink the short ones: Here's the most common cause that amateurs make when they miss short putts.

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Lesson tees: Playing links golf

Tips Plus video: Rory McIlroy

From ball position to body alignment: Here are correct set-up fundamentals for a powerful swing.

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Lesson tees: Playing links golf

Learn from your Past

The par 3s at Royal Aberdeen in Scotland, where Tom Watson won his second Senior British Open in 2005, were a challenge. They played at different lengths and in different directions, requiring a variety of clubs. Here's Tom's strategy for playing them.

Battling wind on links courses

Back in 1975, Tom Watson won his first major at Carnoustie in very windy conditions. Here's his strategy for dealing with a crosswind.

Weather dictates par

Changing his expectations to fit the weather allowed Tom Watson to force a playoff with Jack Newton and earn my his British Open victory at Carnoustie in 1975.

Sweep the long irons

When Tom Watson was asked what was the best full shot he ever hit he replied, "The 2-iron on the last hole at the 1983 British Open." It was 213-yard second shot into the wind on the longest par 4 at Royal Birkdale. Here's how he did it.

Toughest putt in golf

A putt that goes up and then down is the most difficult putt there is; it's like having two putts. The key is good speed. British Open Champion Tom Watson shares his advice.

Keywords:
Tom Watson: Strategies for Playing Links Golf,
rough,
British Open,
Tiger Woods

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