NEWS FROM THE TOUR VANS
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A few days before the 1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, a 7-year-old Tommy Fleetwood attended a golf clinic hosted by that year’s U.S. Open victor, Lee Janzen.
During the clinic, Janzen asked if any of the young lads would come out in front of the audience and hit a shot. Fleetwood volunteered, and he won a TaylorMade Burner driver for his efforts. Fleetwood calls it the first “proper” driver that he ever hit.
Now 25 years later, Fleetwood will be playing this week in his ninth Open Championship after having finished in the top-5 twice in his past three appearances in the event. This playing will not be quite the same kind of home game than it was in the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale when Fleetwood finished T27 – the Englishman grew up in Southport, minutes away from that course – but his hometown is only an hour-long drive down the Irish Sea coast from this week’s host, Royal Liverpool.
Fleetwood’s equipment has also come full circle. The two-time Ryder Cupper has been among those championing the use of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver, a substitute of sorts for a 3-wood. The mini driver, which has a clubhead larger than a fairway wood but smaller than a driver, was designed using copper colorways and old versions of the TaylorMade logo to show its inspiration from the original Burner – the same one Fleetwood won as a prize in his youth.
The point of the club is to provide more distance off the tee when compared with a typical 3-wood, while being more accommodating as an attacking club for second shots on par 5s.
Fleetwood debuted a 13.5-degree version at the RBC Heritage in April, before the club was released. He intended to use the club only at Harbour Town, which is known for its narrow corridors, but decided to keep the club in his bag. It’s been incredibly successful. Fleetwood lost in a playoff at the RBC Canadian Open – he didn’t carry a 3-wood or 5-wood in that event – was T5 at the U.S. Open and T6 in last week’s Genesis Scottish Open.
When using the 13.5-degree head on the mini driver, ball speed is typically about 3 or 4 mph slower than a normal driver and has slightly higher spin. There is a lower-lofted version that acts more like a second driver that is easier to hit off of the turf.
Because of its low launch, the mini driver can be a popular club in windy conditions. That makes it an enticing option this week at Hoylake. And it’s not just Fleetwood who has been using it; Adam Scott, Bryson DeChambeau, Jason Day, Luke List and Phil Mickelson have been among those who have put the mini driver in play.
As one of the most distinct clubs in the game, it’s certainly something to watch moving forward.
Sean Fairholm