Tom Watson is one of the very best drivers of the golf ball of all time.
Watson was one of the most successful as well, and his ability to control his driver in strong winds was the main reason why he won a record five Open Championships.
In total, the now 76-year-old won 39 PGA Tour events, including eight majors.
The cornerstone of his success was remarkably consistent ball striking – a skill he honed on the wind-drenched courses in Kansas City, Missouri.
Now you can cope better with strong winds as well by taking the advice laid out here by the great Mr Watson himself.
Tom Watson’s tip to help amateurs drive the ball better in the wind
The beauty of Watson’s advice is that it is actually incredibly simple.
Much of what he says is actually incredibly simple, and has little to do with the technique of the golf swing.
Watson wrote an instructional column for Golf Digest and explained how amateurs can drive the ball more consistently when hitting right into the teeth of the wind.
He said: “To hit your driver lower, make these adjustments: (1) Tee the ball a half inch lower than you usually do, and grip down on the handle about an inch. (2) Make a slightly shorter backswing. (3) Strike the ball with a level blow, meaning the clubhead should be moving low, just above the ground through impact.
“A good swing thought is to quiet your wrists as you swing back and through. The ball will come out lower and be less susceptible to the breeze.“
If you can follow these simple steps, perhaps you will become a stronger player in the wind.
Tom Watson’s Open Championship record
As mentioned earlier, Watson’s ability to control his ball flight in windy conditions enabled him to dominate at The Open.
Watson played in 38 Open Championships and made 26 cuts in total.
He recorded a whopping five victories as well as two runner-up finishes, including his heartbreaking playoff defeat to Stewart Cink at Turnberry in 2009.
Watson also earned eight top-five finishes and 10 top-10s at The Open.
A truly remarkable career indeed, one that was capped off by his extraordinary success on British shores.
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