Ranked No. 1 in the world among amateurs in 2009, a two-time winner of the Turkish Airlines Open, and a member of the 2014 Ryder Cup-winning team, Victor Dubuisson discusses his short game—bunker shots, bump and run approach shots, and wedge play—in French.
Victor Dubuisson He was one of the greatest talents in French golf: world No. 1 amateur in 2009, two-time winner of the Turkish Airlines Open, finalist in the WGC Match Play, and a member of the European team that won the 2014 Ryder Cup. Around the green, he’s a true artist. Here’s his biography, list of achievements, and video lessons in French, summarized to help you improve your game.
Who is Victor Dubuisson?
Victor Dubuisson is a French golfer, born on April 22, 1990, in Cannes. A brilliant amateur, he won the European Amateur Championship in Chantilly in 2009 and went on to become the first Frenchman to reach No. 1 in the world amateur rankings, a position he held for eight weeks. He turned pro in 2010 and joined the European Tour in 2011.
His first victory came in November 2013 at the Turkish Airlines Open, two strokes ahead of Welshman Jamie Donaldson; he finished the season sixth in the Race to Dubai. In February 2014, the general public took notice of him at the WGC-Accenture Match Play: his saves from the desert, amid the cacti, left a lasting impression, and he didn’t lose in the final to Australian Jason Day until the 23rd hole.
That same year, he finished 9th at the Open and 7th at the PGA Championship, then qualified for the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. Teamed with Graeme McDowell, he won both of his foursomes matches and tied his singles match with Zach Johnson; Europe won 16.5 to 11.5. In February 2015, he reached No. 15 in the world rankings—his highest-ever ranking—and went on to win the Turkish Airlines Open later that year.
His career then slowed down, and in December 2023, he announced that he was leaving the tour. He made a comeback in a different way: in July 2025, he won the Biarritz Cup on the Alps Tour in a playoff, shooting a 61 in the final round. He also devoted himself to coaching: in February 2026, the FFGolf reported on the training program for young French prospects in the elite development program under his guidance.
Victor Dubuisson's List of Achievements
| Tournament or Record | Result |
|---|---|
| Victories on the European Tour | 2: Turkish Airlines Open 2013 and 2015 |
| Ryder Cup | Europe's victory in 2014 at Gleneagles (2 foursomes won, 1 singles match tied) |
| WGC-Accenture Match Play | A 2014 runner-up, defeated by Jason Day on the 23rd hole |
| Best Results in Major Tournaments | 7th place at the 2014 PGA Championship, 9th place at the 2014 Open |
| Highest world ranking | 15th (February 2015) |
| EurAsia Cup | European Championships in 2014 and 2016 |
| Amateur Career | 2009 European Amateur Champion, World No. 1 in amateur tennis (2009) |
| Other Victories | 2025 Biarritz Cup (Alps Tour), in the playoffs |
Victor Dubuisson's Game: What We Can Learn from His Lessons
Victor Dubuisson is often described as a “magician” of the short game. His lessons—most of which were filmed with the FFGolf and are in French—primarily demonstrate one approach: assess the situation, choose the safest shot, and then let your body do the work rather than your hands.
Victor Dubuisson's Bunker
On a short bunker shot, with little green left and a firm green, he plays “80% body, 20% hands”: the 58° clubface is wide open, the ball is on the left heel, his weight is on his left leg, and his stance is almost square. He enters the sand about two inches in front of the ball and aims for a spot 7 to 10 feet behind the hole, never short of the hazard. “The Magician” Victor Dubuisson's Short Bunker Shot.
Victor Dubuisson's Approaches and Wedge Play
On a firm, fast green, he prefers a bump and run approach shot with a 58° wedge: he pitches the ball from mid-range, using a slight lifting motion around his body and a strong left-hand grip. The Sand Wedge Bump and Run Shot: Victor Dubuisson’s Method. When, on the other hand, he needs to stop the ball—75 yards from a pin located behind a bunker—he aims 7 to 13 feet behind the hole to maintain his line of play, with a slightly open stance and without taking a divot. The high, soft shot with a wedge, featuring the “magician” Dubuisson.
His reading of the course is just as precise. From 55 yards out, with the flag just behind a break, he pitches the ball onto the lower plateau with a slight draw and his body rotating first: A 55-yard wedge shot onto a tiered green, by Victor Dubuisson. On an uphill lie with the green above, he prevents the club from digging in: face slightly open, left hand forward, neutral weight distribution, and a rounded swing. The Sandwedge on the Rise, with Victor Dubuisson.
Victor Dubuisson's Swing
In a 2012 video, early in his career on the European Tour, he describes a swing he developed on the driving range and a key strategy for power hitters: slowing down the takeaway rather than speeding it up. Victor Dubuisson Discusses His Swing (2012).
The Best Lessons from Victor Dubuisson, Organized by Topic
- Bunker (Bunker shot): “The Magician” Victor Dubuisson's Short Bunker Shot.
- Approaches and wedge play (wedge play, pitching, and chipping, Course Management): The Sand Wedge Bump and Run Shot: Victor Dubuisson’s Method, The high, soft shot with a wedge, featuring the “magician” Dubuisson, A 55-yard wedge shot onto a tiered green, by Victor Dubuisson.
- Uneven Lies (uneven lies): The Sandwedge on the Rise, with Victor Dubuisson.
- Swing (Swing and Swing Plane, Backswing): Victor Dubuisson Discusses His Swing (2012).
See also the profiles of other French players in the Ryder Cup, Thomas Levet and Jean Van de Velde, that of Raphaël Jacquelin, and that of Seve Ballesteros, another genius of the short game.
Frequently Asked Questions About Victor Dubuisson: Career Highlights, Short Game, and Golf Lessons on Video
How old is Victor Dubuisson?
Victor Dubuisson was born on April 22, 1990, in Cannes; he is 36 years old.
What has become of Victor Dubuisson?
He left the tour in December 2023. He returned for a single tournament in July 2025 to win the Biarritz Cup on the Alps Tour, and has since devoted himself to coaching: in 2026, the FFGolf reported that he was mentoring promising young French players in the elite program.
Does Victor Dubuisson offer golf lessons?
Since retiring from his playing career, he has turned to coaching, which he describes as “a passion” in an interview with the FFGolf (August 2025). In February 2026, he hosted up-and-coming players from the FFGolf’s elite program. His free lessons in French are summarized on this website.
Did Victor Dubuisson play in the Ryder Cup?
Yes, in 2014 at Gleneagles: he won both of his foursomes with Graeme McDowell, tied his singles match with Zach Johnson, and Europe won 16.5 to 11.5.
How many tournaments has Victor Dubuisson won on the European Tour?
Two: the Turkish Airlines Open in 2013 and 2015. He was also a finalist in the 2014 WGC Match Play.
What was Victor Dubuisson's highest world ranking?
He reached No. 15 in the world rankings in February 2015. As an amateur, he became the first French player to reach No. 1 in the world in 2009.
