NEWS FROM THE TOUR VANS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY GOLF PRIDE, THE #1 GRIP ON TOUR
Finding and keeping the right driver can be a frustrating process in the modern game.
The more a driver is hit, the more likely it is to become “too hot” for competition. This is because a worn driver face gradually flexes inward and has reduced compression, which produces increased ball speed and greater distances.
PGA Tour players are subject to random testing for this variable, which is called coefficient of restitution, or COR. There is a pretty basic math equation to figure out the COR, as tour officials use the CT (characteristic time) test to measure the relationship between clubhead speed before and after impact as well as ball speed after impact to figure out whether a driver is still legal.
Anyone can be tested – even Tiger Woods was called over at the Genesis Invitational last month. Players rarely fail the CT test, but it does happen. Xander Schauffele’s Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero was deemed non-conforming before the 2019 Open Championship, for example.
Because of COR, players are often forced to change drivers even when they’ve found the ideal fit. It can be a tricky relationship for other reasons, too; newer driver models can be beneficial, and sponsors encourage their players to game the latest equipment.
Rory McIlroy had a driver that he loved last year: a 9-degree TaylorMade Stealth Plus that lasted 22 official tournaments. McIlroy ranked No. 3 in strokes gained off-the-tee for the 2021-22 season and was remarkably strong in the category at all four major championships, including when he gained more than two strokes per round against the field in the Open Championship.
But according to McIlroy, that driver is no longer an option. He switched to a Stealth Plus 2 after round one of the Genesis Invitational because driver testing was occurring at Riviera and he could sense his driver was approaching the legal limit. It’s a high-profile case, but this type of monitoring is normal regardless of manufacturer.
Although he is still world-class with the big dog in hand, McIlroy said he isn’t fully comfortable with his Stealth Plus 2. That showed when he opened the Players Championship with a 4-over 76 and missed the cut. His lack of accuracy off the tee contributed to those struggles.
“Yeah, obviously I went to that new driver at Riviera, and it’s just not … look, I wish I could use my driver from last year, but I can’t just because of – you use a driver for so long, and it starts to get a little too … basically, it just wouldn’t pass the test,” McIlroy said.
“These driver heads are so finicky, it's hard to get one exactly the same. I mean, I'm obviously trying my best, trying to get something that's as close to what I had last year … there's obviously a part of it that's the user, as well. It's quite a lot of user error in there.”
With the Masters just a few weeks away, we will be keeping our eyes on McIlroy’s driver setup. Data Golf notes that driving accuracy is a vital skill to be successful at TPC Sawgrass, but it’s significantly less important at Augusta National, so the driver could be more manageable at the Masters.
In related gear news, Collin Morikawa returned to TaylorMade’s SIM driver, an older model that he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 Open Championship. He had been using a Stealth 2 Plus recently and ranked No. 16 in strokes gained off-the-tee coming into this past week, which was actually an improvement on previous seasons.
It appears to be a temporary move as Morikawa refocuses on hitting a fade off the tee. He spent ample time earlier in the week grooving a swing feel that he called his best since 2019 when he turned pro.
“I have a Stealth 2 driver that's actually – it probably goes farther and it actually does what I want; I just haven't put it in play yet,” Morikawa said. “It was something that we built earlier this week. Just to know where my misses would be. Even though I missed a few left, I just know once I hit it off the face, I know where the misses are going to be. It's nice to have something trusty.
“But I just didn't have time to test my other one enough, especially after kind of having the misses last week.”
A few other news and notes:
Max Homa added a Titleist TSR2 3-wood with a Fujikura Ventus TR Red shaft. He was searching for a fairway wood option that he could draw more easily.
Kurt Kitayama used a TaylorMade Stealth 2 to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks back, and a key part of the fitting process was going to a driver shaft three-quarters of an inch shorter than normal. Despite being only 5-foot-7 and using a shorter shaft, Kitayama routinely generates ball speed of 180-plus mph.
And finally, FootJoy won both the shoe (53 percent) and glove (40 percent) count at the Players Championship.
Sean Fairholm