Woods analyzes his Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter during practice at Royal Troon.
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It wouldn't be Open Championship week without a few equipment changes for Tiger Woods. For years, the 15-time winner has been tweaking his setup to fit the links-style conditions players face every year when they walk across the pond. Changes have worked wonders in the past, so Woods has continued the tradition for one week on the calendar.
In a pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday, Woods confirmed he would make three changes at Royal Troon. None of them are surprised, but they still have to point it out as most of their colleagues are likely to make similar calls on Thursday.
Wedge changes
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What Tiger Says: “I play monkey with my jumping [60-degree]. I got a couple of 60s that I'm trying to test right now, one with a little bounce in the recording areas. Also, I need to – I like the way my old 60 goes through the bedroom and comes out. It's not digging. So I have to call you about that.”
To analyze the change: The pros are used to playing in tough conditions, but the Open Championship tends to take things to the next level – assuming the weather cooperates. Woods has historically played wedges with a double sole that allows the wedge to have moderate bounce if the leading edge is square to the target. However, the extra relief, especially in the heel, allows the bounce to drop more so that the leading edge can get under the ball from a tighter lie.
Going for less bounce means Woods wants something that allows the leading edge to stay in contact with the turf, no matter where it's positioned. In a serious matter at Royal Troon, the decision makes sense.
If there's one thing to consider when removing bounce, it's how well the wedge will play out of the sand. Bounce is your friend in the basement and allows the head to move in and out of the sand smoothly with minimal digging. This is a tradeoff that all golfers must consider, not just Woods.
Do you sacrifice flexibility in the sand for fewer jumps? Of all the changes he is considering, this would be the most important.
Season of the Stinger
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What Tiger Says: “I just bent my 3 iron yesterday one degree tighter just so I could get it off the deck and get that thing down and fly away.”
To analyze the change: Woods has won a number of Open Championships with a long iron in his hands. At this point, there is no reason to change. The P770 3-iron he usually carries has 19.5 degrees of loft. Knocking it down one degree should allow more release and keep the driver in the bag. It's bite time, baby.
“I think the older you get, the less you can carry the golf ball,” Woods said. “But here, you can drive a golf ball 100 yards if you get the right wind and the right fairway.
“It goes against the high standards of presentation that you see on the Tour today that are all over the world. Here it is a little different. You can play on the floor. You can fire it down with a 1-wood, a 2-iron, a 3-wood, whatever, even drivers, and you just swing it and you get a bunch of runs.”
If you've ever thought about strengthening your muscles to produce more distance, follow Woods' lead and only make incremental changes. Bending the head 1-2 degrees will change the bounce and takeoff, but not enough to affect how the head moves through the area.
Tap on the top
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What Tiger Says: “I added lead tape to my putter just because the greens are slow.”
To analyze the change: With the greens getting slower this week, many golfers will be looking for ways to add more release to their putts. Some of today's putters offer an adjustable weight version with heel toe weights made of different materials (tungsten, steel, aluminum) to produce the desired feel. That being said, there is very little about Woods' gear trends that could be considered new school.
During the 2019 Open Championship, Woods tested two different putters earlier in the week at Royal Portrush, including a modified weight version of the Newport 2 with heavier plugs to combat slower greens. In the end, Woods opted for the old-school approach — strips of lead tape taped to the surface of his trusty Newport 2 putter.
Woods has a history of using lead tape — a 1-inch piece that weighs 2 grams — throughout his puttering career to increase the weight of the head, making it easier to get the ball into the hole, something he struggles with. do it in slow cooker.
If you play on slow greens and are thinking of adding lead tape to your putter, just remember that the position can change the MOI along the axis. The lead in the middle should keep things neutral, but if you were to place it near the perimeter of the sole, it would deliver a higher MOI due to the mass factor.
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