Short game tips from Tommy Fleetwood’s coach

PGA Master Professional Graham Walker has played a key role in the rise of Tommy Fleetwood to the top ranks in golf and the Ryder Cup. Walker is in Fleetwood’s corner this week in Rome as Europe look to win back the Ryder Cup.

Speaking to The PGA at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Walker explains what his role is for the week and provides some key tips for amateurs to improve their short game.

“An old friend of mine used to say in coaching it’s having other player’s or people’s fun and I’ve had a lot of fun over the last few years coaching Tommy,” said Walker.

“It’s very pleasing that someone like him can take on all of the skills he has been learning and working very hard at, and then taken that ownership and be able to take that out onto the golf course.

“Tommy was number one around the greens (I think) in 2022 on the PGA Tour. What makes him great is being able to take on information, work on that information, by himself and with coaches, and then when he’s worked on it he owns it. We have a little phrase of ‘run and shoot’ which really means you make a quick decision and when you’ve made your quick decision relative to how you practice, you able to play I would say swiftly and then you’ve got the feel of the rehearsal and shot.”

Asked what his role is with Fleetwood and the types of drills they will go through in Rome, Walker continued: “I have my book and in there I have Tommy’s short game areas all sketched out and the types of shots Tommy needs to practice and the shots we need for the golf course.

“He then practices a multitude of golf shots and then through the week we cut those golf shots down into what he needs for the week. So, we’ll work on some shots that go in low, those shots that skip to the top of the bank and bounce over, and the being able to use loft around the greens out of the rough so that he’s very comfortable with loft.

“I have a little saying that I’ve used for a long time called ‘world class with loft’ so it doesn’t mean you always have to hit the ball in the air, but what it does mean is you’ve got to be comfortable using the loft that you’ve got.

“One of the things we’ve been doing this week is getting Tommy to be comfortable with the base of the club interacting with the floor, so he actually feels the club into the ground, he feels the bounce of the club on the floor and how it then exits out of the ground. Because of that then, he’s able to loft and spin the ball.”

Asked for his one tip for amateurs to improve their short game, Walker added: “You need three shots. You need to be able to hit a low shot, a medium high shot and you need to be able to hit a high shot, probably with your most lofted club as well. Then when you’re applying the shot, make sure your rehearsal fits the shot that is coming up. If you rehearse the shot well and play the shot in the way that your rehearsed it, you can be proud of yourself because those two things should match.”