SWING ANALYSIS
Split More Fairways Sepp Straka’s takeaway is a big key to his accuracy BY DAVE ALLEN
AT 6-FOOT-3, 106 KILO- grams, Sepp Straka could eas- ily be mistaken for a tight end
“I’m a pretty good driver of the ball for the most part,” says Straka, the first Austrian-born player to win on the PGA Tour – at the 2022 Honda Classic: he now has 3 wins, including the 2025 American Express. “I by no means hit it far compared to a lot of guys out here, but I feel like for how far I hit it, I’m pretty accurate.” Straka’s swing coach, John Tillery, says the distance will come once Stra- ka’s swing becomes more efficient. He also notes that Straka is taking “bet- ter care of his body these days” and is getting even stronger.
and not an emerging PGA Tour star. The 31-year-old Georgia alumnus is definitely one of the more imposing figures in pro golf. Yet despite his tall, muscular physique, Straka’s driving game relies more on accuracy than power. In 2024 Straka ranked eighth on tour in driving accuracy (70 percent of fairways hit) and well down the pack in driving distance (294.7 yards). He’d much rather hit the short grass than stretch the field.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DOM FURORE
96 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
MARCH/APRIL 2025
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