It is often said that the hardest shot in golf is a bunker shot which is between 40 and 75 yards away from the green – and it seems that many PGA Tour players would agree with that.
While almost every PGA Tour player seems to be outstanding when finding sand around the green, the challenge facing them seems to rise considerably when they are a little further away from the putting surface.
Justin Thomas suggested to Grant Horvat during a match between the two that it is indeed potentially the most challenging shot on the course when your ball is in the sand with around 60 yards left.
Thomas would actually hit a sublime approach from that position. But he noted how easy it is to get the shot all wrong and be made to look quite foolish – particularly as you have such a small margin for error as you look to almost catch the ball slightly thin.
Justin Thomas names the best PGA Tour player out of bunkers
It is definitely an art form. And Thomas explained how Jordan Spieth is the best in that particular area on the PGA Tour, with three-time major always seeming to make the ideal contact with the ball.
“Sometimes you get 50, 60 yards in the bunker, it’s like the hardest shot ever and you know you kind of almost play a blade, but because of how small of a swing you’re taking, if you just hit fractionally behind the ball, you hit it literally eight yards and you look so dumb,” he said.
“Jordan is the best out of bunkers. You put him in this bunker back here and he just grabs 60. He’s so good at hitting on the back of the ball.”
The players on tour Justin Thomas is closest to as he lauds Jordan Spieth’s bunker play
Thomas was also asked during the video which players he is closest with on the PGA Tour. It will come as little surprise that the two-time PGA Champion also mentioned Spieth, as well as Rickie Fowler.
“I’d say Jordan and Rick are probably the two I’m closest with. Jordan was the best man at my wedding. We’re the same age, played against each other for a long time,” he said.
Thomas’ comments about Spieth’s quality out of bunkers help highlight why the 2015 Masters champion is so entertaining to watch. No player probably wants to be considered the best out of bunkers as it likely means that they have had plenty of practice due to another part of their game being off.
But Spieth definitely takes viewers on a journey whenever he tees it up. He is yet to rediscover his best form, but he certainly gives fans their money’s worth.
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