By
Gio Valiante, Ph.D.Mentally, the problem with the deep greenside bunker shot is twofold. First, the consequences can be severe. Think of Thomas Bjorn going to the 16th hole of the 2003 British Open with a two-shot lead on Sunday. He hits into a pot bunker, takes three to get out and eventually loses by a shot. Three years earlier, the world watched David Duval, then the No. 2-ranked player in the world, take four shots to get out of the Road Hole bunker at St. Andrews. Witnessing such devastation takes a toll on the psyches of those watching. We learn fear vicariously, so when it's our time to hit a similar shot, we're often programmed to expect the worst.Instead, replay a positive experience in your mind. For example, my client Justin Rose executed a brutal bunker shot perfectly against Tiger Woods in a match to go 1 up, and went on to win. So reprogram with a positive image. The second issue is, we don't spend enough time practicing in deep bunkers. The best remedy for fear is preparation. It helps you replace fear with confidence. That's the other half of the battle.