A Big Surprise in Phil Mickelson's Bag

Tuesday April 4, 2006 | 11:43:39 200 words, 10161 views

One thing that most viewers probably missed during Phil Mickelson’s dominate golf performance last week at the BellSouth Classic was what was going on in Phil’s bag. The commentators noted that Phil was experimenting with two drivers. Yes, two drivers. They stated that his fairways hit average was only 57% this year and during the BellSouth Classic he was hitting over 70% of his fairways.

Mickelson chose to test two drivers in this tune-up to the Masters to see if it would help him with the tight fairways at Augusta. With the new weighting systems of drivers like the Taylor Made r7Quad and Callaway FT-3, a golfer can adjust the clubhead weight to promote a draw or a slice. In the case of Mickelson, he used it to his advantage by keeping it in the fairway more than 70% of the time, and even more amazing, increasing his greens in regulation to a stunning 88.9%.

Get ready to make an investment in another 460cc driver because with this kind of improvement by a tour professional who switches to two drivers, regular golfers are bound to flock to their local pro shop to buy a twin sister or brother for their cherished big stick.

4 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: mediaguru @ hookedongolfblog.com [Visitor] · http://www.hookedongolfblog.com

I've seen many players with two putters. One for long and one for short. I've got 4 wedges in the bag. Why not 2 drivers?

Permalink 2006-04-05 @ 10:30

Comment from: Kiel Christianson [Visitor] · http://www.travelgolf.com/departments/authorarchives/christianson.htm

With two drivers, one of those wedges will have to go to stay at 14 clubs. My guess is that 2 drivers would work for a scratch player who can actually repeat their swing enough to take advantage of the weighting systems, as well as the ability to play a variety of shots with a smaller number of wedges, a la Philly Mick.

Permalink 2006-04-05 @ 13:16

Comment from: Kris [Visitor]

Looks like he took out the 3-Iron.

driver, driver, 3+, 5W, 4-P, sw, lw, putter.

Permalink 2006-04-09 @ 18:22

Comment from: shawn [Visitor]

It isn't likely that he is going to take a scoring club out of his bag. More likely, with a much higher percentage of fairways hit, he will remove a long iron. In todays game, with todays pro, long irons don't see much use anyway. Its more of a driver and wedge game then ever. If driver technology increases any more, we will only need a driver and putter in the bag. Gone are the days when golfers could actually work the ball with all the clubs. Is it a wonder that TIger is dominating?

Permalink 2007-06-04 @ 09:57

Golf Gear News

Podcast hosted by Bruce Stasch

Bruce Stasch, a self-described guru of golf gear, operates two online golf stores and Golf Gear News, a podcast providing thelatest news, interviews, info and tips. Here you'll find insight into the game that you don't find in the mainstream golf media. Expect him to talk about equipment, club building, gear and other weirdness that is the game of golf. He has played the game for more than 10 years and gives himself at least two mulligans per round.