Augusta, GA

1 crucial short-game shot pros need at Augusta National

Published

11 months ago

April 8, 2025

Press Room

1 crucial short-game shot pros need at Augusta National

By:

Zephyr Melton

April 8, 2025

Having a “bump-and-check” shot in your bag is crucial for success around Augusta National.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Augusta National is a course that requires every shot in your bag — and that’s especially true around the greens. When an approach caroms off the slick putting surfaces, those who have creativity with their wedges are the ones who find the most success.

No one knows this fact better than GOLF Teacher to Watch Parker McLachlin. McLachlin — aka the Short Game Chef — is a former PGA Tour winner who now works as a short-game instructor. He’s worked with various pros over the years, and on Tuesday he could be seen at Augusta’s practice facility working with five-time Tour winner Sam Burns.

“The firmness of the greens, the speed of the greens, and the slope around the greens makes for a huge challenge,” McLachlin says. “That’s the difficult part.”

With such intricate green complexes highlighting this famed Alister MacKenzie design, players need to have tons of tools in their arsenal to get up-and-down. However, there’s one shot players need that is crucial for competing at Augusta — and it’s unique to this tournament.

McLachlin explains more below.

1 crucial short-game shot for Augusta

Most people have heard of the bump-and-run, but around Augusta, that shot doesn’t work as well as in other places. With how quick the greens are, you need a bit of spin to keep your ball from racing off the surface. For that reason, McLachlin says it’s crucial to know how to hit what he calls the “bump-and-check.”

“Think about long of No. 15,” he says. “You’ve got to bump it into the hill, but it can’t be a bump-and-run. If it is, it’ll roll off into the water on the other side. And you can’t hit it high and stop it because you’re into the grain and you can’t spin it as much and landing on a downslope. So you have to hit a bump with a little check.”

So, how do you hit a bump-and-check? It’s a bit like a bump-and-run, but with a few key adjustments.

McLachlin recommends playing the ball a bit back in the stance with your weight and the handle of the club leaning a bit forward. Open the clubface a bit and then make an out-to-in swing path. If you catch it right, it should come out a little low and check on the second bounce.

You may never get a chance to play Augusta National, but with this shot, you can at least play a shot that the pros use.

ShortGameChef.com, created by PGA Tour winner Parker McLachlin, provides golfers with a comprehensive resource to improve their short game. Through personalized tips, drills, and expert insights, Parker helps players of all levels gain more confidence and a deeper understanding of their short game to lower their scores. You can browse membership options here.

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Augusta, GA

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 2025-2026 Peach Belt Conference brackets are set, and there is plenty of shakeup this year.

Starting with the women’s bracket, Augusta University secured the #4 overall seed and will face #5 seed Middle Georgia in round one.

USCA’s women’s team did not fair as well, finishing in last place of this season’s standings.

On the men’s side, USCA’s men’s team secured the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament.

In a shocking turn of events, AU’s men’s team did not qualify for the tournament.

This marks the first time the program has missed the PBC tournament since Dip Metress took over the program in 2004.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Published

17 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Augusta, Ga. – Augusta managed just five hits and one run and fell to Georgia Southwestern 12-1 Sunday as the Hurricanes win two of the three games of the series. The Jaguars are now 7-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 11-8 overall. The Canes improve to 7-2 in conference play and 12-7 overall.

Georgia Southwestern scored runs in all but one inning including four runs in the first two innings and plated five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam.

The only Augusta run would come in the fourth inning. Landon Leonard would reach on an error and would come around when Kent Moon reached on a fielder’s choice that would plate Leonard.

Leonard, Moon, Davis Newman, Harris Bachelder and Jakob Cowart would collect the hits for the Jaguars.

Augusta will next be in action on Friday when the open up a three game series with Lander at Jaguar Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.

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Augusta, GA

Protestors in downtown Augusta speak out after strikes on Iran

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Protestors in downtown Augusta speak out after strikes on Iran

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local protestors made their voices heard after Israel and the U.S. announced strikes on Iran Saturday, ones that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reports say.

Protesters lined 13th Street in Downtown Augusta and walked across the river to North Augusta to make sure as many people as possible heard them.

50501 CSRA already had a march planned for Saturday, but in light of the strikes on Iran, decided to expand its focus.

Local leaders spoke about their concerns for the strikes, and roughly 60 people showed up to share theirs as well.

One of the event organizers said to make your voice heard your voice heard.

“Just call your people, call your representatives, if you don’t like that Iran was bombed, I don’t either. But call people and let them know, email them. Let it be relentless. Congress did not approve this. They have a say in this,” Zee Cook said.

The strike is being called “Operation Epic Fury,” with Iran responding with multiple missile and drone strikes across the Middle East.

In a social media post, President Trump said the bombing of the country will continue “as long as necessary.”

People across the world began lining the streets as well in support and against the decision.

Leaders across the world reacted to the news, including those in Georgia and South Carolina.

There’s a protest planned in Charleston and other regional cities this week.

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