Tiger tips: trouble: learn how to play a recovery shot from the opposite side

Golf Digest, Nov, 2003 by Tiger Woods, Pete McDaniel

None of golf's great escape artists possesses more natural skill or instinct than the average golfer. They make it look easy because they've developed a certain degree of expertise through trial and error. Some of them even practice trouble shots to eliminate the fear factor when they're forced to execute a shot under pressure.

I'm sure the first player to turn the clubhead over on its toe and hit a ball from the opposite side wasn't trying to be innovative. Circumstances dictated that kind of a shot. After all, necessity is the mother of invention, even in golf.

I've hit some shots off the planet and found my ball in some pretty interesting places--behind giant boulders, perilously close to a fist-size stone, in a tree trunk, underneath a concession stand. In the final round of this year's Masters, I flared a drive so close to an azalea bush that my best option was to hit it back into play left-handed. It was a shot I'd hit several times in competition, so I was perfectly comfortable with it. That's the key. To execute an escape from the opposite side, you must keep your cool and try not to do too much with the shot. Turn the page to see how I do it.

Always take the safest escape route

The thing to remember on most trouble shots is that you're just trying to get the ball back in play. Don't be too aggressive. You don't want to compound the problem by making another mistake. This is doubly important with a shot as dicey as the opposite-side pitch-out. I play the toe-down left-handed shot just as I would a normal shot: I use a standard interlock grip and grip down on a 9- or 8-iron for control. I set up with the ball toward the middle of my stance to promote ball-first contact. I make sure I maintain my spine angle throughout the shot. If not, I'll either fat it or thin it. I watch my tempo, too. I think nice and smooth. A quick swing often results in a mis-hit.

Tiger Talk

Summing up my year

I wasn't able to win a major championship this year for the first time since 1998. Sure, it's disappointing, but I had a chance in every one except the PGA. The most frustrating tournament was obviously the British Open. I just didn't get it done, especially on the greens. All you can do is prepare properly and give your best effort, and that's what I did. It'll probably happen again before my career is finished. I feel I've played well this year, and I've been nitpicked more than most players. If I could have four wins every year, that would be pretty darn good.

My consecutive-cuts streak

Through the Deutsche Bank Championship in late August, I had made 111 consecutive cuts, second to Byron Nelson's record 113. It's definitely something I take pride in. It means I come to play every time I tee it up, I'm mentally and physically prepared, and I'm consistent. That, more than anything, is the most important thing to me.

Watch out for Phil

It's tough to deal with high expectations, but I don't have it any worse than Phil Mickelson does. He gets second-guessed everywhere he plays, even in the smaller tournaments. He's still in the prime of his career. The guy is going to win a major. He's way too talented not to.

I prefer to drive, thank you

At tournaments at home and abroad, I'd rather drive than be driven; I guess I'm just a control freak. I don't like limousines at all, and I never will. I'd much rather drive myself, so I can come and go as I please. When I travel, I almost always get a rental car.

Tiger Woods writes instruction articles only for Golf Digest.