Tiger Woods explained why he plays bunker shots differently to Scottie Scheffler, one club just ‘doesn’t work’ for him

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There is no right or wrong way to play golf, and that’s why there’s so much variation in technique, even among the best in the world.

Tiger Woods is arguably the greatest golfer of all time and Scottie Scheffler is the best in the world today, yet they play in different ways.

So, when the pair once filmed a masterclass on bunker shots, Woods explained that he couldn’t replicate what Scheffler liked to do in the sand.

It’s hard to believe, but the 15-time major champion even said that there’s one club that he’s never enjoyed using.

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Tiger Woods hits bunker shots differently than Scottie Scheffler

Woods asked Scheffler which club he normally chooses when playing greenside bunker shots, and he replied: “Typically a 60-[degree wedge].”

Woods then explained that he doesn’t like to use the same club, instead preferring the less-lofted 56-degree club – more commonly known as a sand wedge.

“I like a 56 myself. I grew up without a 60. So I’m just used to having that face open on my 56 all the time. And I found that when the sand gets heavier, then my 60 doesn’t work. It goes too deep.”

This is probably an issue that some amateurs struggle with, too. Of course, the 56 generates less height but it’s easier to get a better contact.

The pair then discussed hitting longer bunker shots, which some would say is the hardest shot in golf.

Woods asked: “If you had to hit a long bunker shot, would you go to a pitching wedge or an 8-iron?”

Scheffler responded: “I’d go all the way down to… 9-iron is where it’s kind of pushing it. I would never use an 8-iron. I’d go all the way down to about a 9-iron.”

Scottie Scheffler below PGA Tour average in key bunker stat

Scheffler is obviously an incredible bunker player by normal people’s standards, but on the PGA Tour, he’s actually not great in that department.

Save sand percentage is the percent of time a player takes two shots or less (gets ‘up and down’) to put the ball in the hole from a greenside bunker.

The PGA Tour average in the 2025 season is 59.3% and Scheffler falls slightly below that (59.26%).

PGA Tour sand save percentage

Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele are two other world-class players who appear to struggle slightly from greenside bunkers.

Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg are both well above average, while 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett leads the way.