How To Play Rory's Shot On 18!!

Many golfers would have been on the edge of their seat watching Rory McIlroy’s final hole in a major championship, wondering whether he could finish the round successfully and secure another major victory.

On the last hole, Rory’s tee shot drifted well to the right, forcing him to make an important decision for his second shot. From a coaching perspective — and something we regularly teach in golf lessons on the Gold Coast — this is a perfect example of course management under pressure.

He realistically had three options:

1. Lay up down the fairway and play a short pitch in for his third shot

   
   

2. Chip out left back into the fairway to reset the hole

2. Attempt a high hook around the trees toward the green

   
   

To my surprise, he chose the high hook.

From a strategic point of view, this decision likely came down to risk management. Laying up straight ahead could still leave a delicate third shot, particularly over a bunker. Chipping out left may have resulted in a longer and less comfortable approach. The high hook offered the chance of getting closer to the green or at worst leaving a manageable short game shot.

🧠 How to hit a high hook (what golfers should learn)

At Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre in Carrara, we often break down shot shaping into simple, repeatable steps — and Rory’s shot is a great example.

To play a high hook:

• Choose a lofted club (Rory used an 8 iron)

  
  

• Position the ball slightly forward if extra height is needed

  
  

• Aim your body to the right of the target (where the ball will start)

  
  

• Focus on releasing the club so the face closes through impact

  
  

The goal is not perfection — it is control. In this situation, Rory wasn’t trying to avoid a hook; he was simply trying to start the ball in a safe area and allow the natural curve to bring it back toward the target.

🔁 How to hit a fade (opposite shot shape)

To hit the opposite shot — a controlled fade:

• Use a lofted club

  
  

• Position the ball slightly forward

  
  

• Aim your body left of the target line

  
  

• Feel the clubface staying slightly open through impact

A simple range drill we use in golf coaching on the Gold Coast is:

• For a hook: feel the toe of the club overtaking the heel through impact

  
  

• For a fade: feel the heel staying ahead of the toe

  
  

This helps golfers develop awareness of clubface control, which is the foundation of consistent shot shaping.

🏌️ Final thoughts

Understanding shot shape is one of the most powerful skills in golf. It improves not just ball striking, but also course management and decision-making under pressure.

If you want help learning how to shape your shots and improve your scoring, you can get in touch with David Waters Golf at Emerald Lakes in Carrara, offering professional golf lessons on the Gold Coast tailored to your game.