NEWS FROM THE TOUR VANS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY GOLF PRIDE, THE #1 GRIP ON TOUR
Justin Thomas may have found something just in time for the Ryder Cup.
Thomas went with a longer driver at the Fortinet Championship, using a 45.625-inch Graphite Design VF 5X shaft in his 10-degree Titleist TSR3. His normal gamer has the same clubhead but with a 44.875-inch Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60TX shaft, one he has employed since 2019.
“I wanted a longer driver option to have,” Thomas said during his Wednesday press conference at Silverado Resort in Napa, California. “I wanted something to where maybe I travel with it every week and it’s like maybe I use it five times a year, maybe I use it once, whatever. It’s just three-fourths of an inch longer, but it’s an instant 2 or 3 mph club speed (increase), and it goes quite a bit further.
“We kind of screwed around and (Titleist Tour rep J.J. Van Wezenbeeck) sent me some stuff in the mail, but hadn’t done like a proper fitting for one because I know my (normal) driver is great. It works how I want it to … but I’ve driven it really, really well with the longer driver actually the last two weeks using it.”
Originally non-committal about using the longer driver in competition this past week, Thomas did put it in play and was No. 2 in strokes gained off-the-tee and No. 1 in driving distance during the second round, indicative of his confidence with the new big dog.
“If I drive it like I did today, I'll use it for the rest of my career,” Thomas said Friday after a 67 on Silverado’s North course.
This could be an important element for Thomas, a controversial captain’s pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team. The match, to be held next week at Marco Simone in Rome, Italy, will put a premium on driving. Thomas ranked No. 52 in strokes gained off-the-tee and No. 132 in driving accuracy in the 2022-23 season, although it was his balky putter that let him down more than his driver.
Additionally, Thomas is testing out a new Titleist T100 4-iron, which has a custom weld job near the hosel reducing the offset to zero. That means the leading edge and the hosel are perfectly in line with each other, a rare preference for a tour player.
Keep an eye out for what bag setup Thomas uses in Rome. It could be an important part of what impact he can make for the American squad.
Sean Fairholm