Proof that golfers don't need a perfect swing to win

If you watched Japanese golfer Kota Kaneko winning the Austrian Open you will know that he has what could best be described as an industrial golf swing.

It has a LOT of moving parts, and the one thing of which I am utterly certain is that unless he makes some serious swing changes, this is a man who is going to struggle for consistency. When he has his eye in he will play well but there are going to be plenty of 80s.

It got me thinking about others who have been winners while possessing unconventional golf swings.

Lee Trevino

Trevino stood to the ball with feet, hips and shoulders aiming miles left. He then took the club back miles on the outside and cut across the ball, slicing everything he hit. But he had remarkable ball control.

Jim Furyk

David Feherty once described Furyk’s swing as being like an octopus trying to escape from a bag. And that was pretty accurate. But it didn’t stop him winning a bucketful of tournaments, the US Open and becoming the only man to shoot 58 on the PGA Tour.

Gay Brewer

Brewer won The Masters in 1967 and a host of other tournaments. If you ever saw his swing you might be inclined to ask: "How?" His backswing featured a massive loop at the top.

Tommy Gainey

Gainey is the very definition of the industrial golf swing. Nothing about it looks right or conventional. He takes a horrible lunge at the ball. He also wears two gloves - presumably to ensure the club doesn’t slip out of his hands and follow the ball.

Doug Sanders

Remembered for missing a tiny putt to win the 1970 Open at St Andrews, Sanders’ backswing barely passed hip-height but he was one of the biggest hitters of his time.

Bubba Watson

Famously claims never to have had a lesson. His swing is another that has many moving parts but the left-hander has magical hands and is a two-time Masters winner.

Bryson DeChambeau

Where to start? Everything about DeChambeau is unorthodox. His swing is best watched from behind the sofa, his irons are all the same length, he almost swings himself off his feet - and don’t get me started on his putting stroke.

Moe Norman

If you have never seen Norman’s swing you should check it out on YouTube. You won’t believe your eyes, I promise. It all looked incredibly wooden but there has NEVER been a straighter hitter of a golf ball.

Eamonn Darcy

If you didn’t know any better and watched Darcy on the first tee you would swear you were watching an 18-handicapper. His swing included a huge loop but he found a way to make it work, winning on the European Tour and performing some Ryder Cup heroics.

Ray Floyd

Floyd always looked like he had a red-hot poker stuck up his backside and walked as if he had piles. But he won The Masters, US Open and US PGA along with 22 PGA Tour titles so was clearly on to something!