What you can learn from Tiger

As well as being pristine white it’s also compacted just under the surface with about half an inch of loose, flaky granules on the top, just like the Tour pros prefer.

In his best-selling book ‘How I play golf’ Tiger reveals much about the techniques needed to cope with Augusta’s sand traps and how by practising he helps relieve the pressure.

"I open my stance and align everything – feet, hips and shoulders – to the left of the target. That pre-programmes an out-to-in swing, so the clubhead cuts across the sand and the ball through impact. I aim the clubface right of the target.

"The last thing I want on a sand shot is for the clubface to rotate to a closed position through impact, so I also weaken my left-hand grip at address, so the back of my left hand faces the target."

Other tips Tiger recommends for bunker shots include:

*Position the ball forwards to promote a high trajectory

*Impact the sand three inches behind the ball if you want it to run and roll, one inch behind to hit it high and land soft.

*To avoid decelleration imagine the club is travellling fastest six inches beyond the ball.

At 15 after laying up 50 yards short of the lake, he faced a 90 yard pitch and effectively closed out his opponents by producing a stunning shot which spun the ball to within 18 inches of the hole for birdie.

He says: "The secret to hitting the ball high is not to force it. Choose a lofted club and open your stance by aligning your feet left of the target line. Open the clubface to increase loft and play the ball forward of your left toe.

"I strengthen my my left hand grip by turning it to my left at address and pick the club up steeply on the backswing, allowing my wrists to cock naturally.

"My main downswing thought is to slide the club under the ball making sure I accelerate. On the follow through the clubface should point to the sky, proof I’ve maintained the loft of the clubface. That’s where I hold the follow through to see the result."

It was this technique that earned him a birdie two with a chip-in at No.6 on Sunday.

He says: "I set my hands slightly ahead of the ball, and grip the club as I do the putter to avoid a lot of hand action. I lean a little towards the target to promote a downward blow on the ball."

Tiger says he also chokes down on the club for extra control and flexes his knees to feel them alive through the shot.

"I hold the club lightly at address, to avoid tension in the arms, my chin held high and my back straight. A lot of bad chippers hunch down over the ball. The chipping action is the old one-two, controlled by the shoulders more than hands and arms. No scooping, keeping eyes focussed on the impact point through the shot."

His book reveals that grip pressure is a key to his solid putting form. On a scale of one to 10 the pressure he exerts on the handle, he says, is five.

"If you’re having trouble on lag putts, if your speed isn’t right on shorter break putts or if you’re manipulating the putter, check your grip pressure. No doubt about it, light is right."

He says his keys are:

*Same length back and through

*Shoulder and arms do most of the work

*Let your wrists hinge a little

*Arms and putter act as one

*Keep a steady head

*No peeking!

Watch, too how Tiger replicates the same pre-shot routine without fail, every time.

"A good putting stroke requires good rhythm and a steady, repeating pace. One of the secrets is to do everything else smoothly and repetitively, too, before pulling the trigger."

You may never be able to play consistently like the 2002 Masters champion but by learning from him, occasionally you will be able to pull off a little Tiger magic.

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