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Woods hits a bunker shot throughout a observe spherical at Pinehurst.
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The U.S. Open marks the fourth time we’ve seen Tiger Woods this season. The sporadic appearances affirm what many assumed when the 15-time main winner made his return at this 12 months’s Masters: It’s going to be the majors and some occasions (benefitting his basis) going ahead. At this level, it’s finest to get pleasure from one thing as a substitute of nothing.
Fewer event reps permit Woods to focus utterly on the subsequent process at hand, which, on this case, is Pinehurst No. 2. Requested throughout his pre-tournament press convention to explain his prep work main as much as this week, Woods zeroed in on the one space of the sport that’s certain to outline the event come Sunday afternoon — the quick sport.
“I did a bit of bit of labor on chipping and placing,” he stated. “However nothing can simulate what now we have right here this explicit week, the quantity of little pictures and the knobs and run-offs, and both utilizing wedges or lengthy irons or woods across the greens and even putter. There’s so many various pictures that you simply actually can’t simulate until you get on the property. That’s one of many causes I got here up right here final Tuesday, to have the ability to try to try this. Fairly a bit of labor. The golf course has firmed up and gotten quicker since then.”
GolfWRX (L) | Jonathan Wall/GOLF (R)
Woods used all the pieces from wedges and fairway woods to lengthy irons and the putter to execute totally different pictures throughout his observe rounds. Creativity and a short-term reminiscence are key if you wish to succeed across the green at Pinehurst. So, too, is knowing that tools adjustments are typically essential to deal with totally different grasses — ultradwarf Bermudagrass from bentgrass, in Pinehurst’s case — and course circumstances.
Woods hardly ever makes changes to the scoring instruments in his bag for a significant championship, however he’s making an exception for Pinehurst. Nestled in his employees bag this week are two TaylorMade MG4 wedges (56 and 60 levels) with the phrase “Proto” stamped on every head. The wedges don’t look all that totally different from the earlier set he had on the PGA Championship. Nonetheless, a more in-depth look reveals a few attention-grabbing alterations.
TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 Tiger Woods Custom Wedge
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The unique grind on each sole was designed by the artful hands of Tiger Woods. The 56° wedge is a dual sole with heavy heel relief, while the 60° has an extremely high bounce on the leading edge with a shaved heel. This makes it possible to open the face for flop shots, while still providing relief on the leading edge for better performance on tight lies. Designed for ultimate versatility, this setup allows Tiger to take on any shot, on any course, anywhere in the world.
IMPROVED SPIN IN WET CONDITIONS
Spin Tread technology utilizes laser etching to channel away moisture and help retain spin in wet conditions. The same way that tire treads help your car stay connected to the road, Spin Tread redirects water at impact and creates more friction between the club face and golf ball to impart more spin than prior generations.
REFINED SHAPING
MG4 features refinements in shape and visual appeal with a focus on what players perceive at address. Details from the hosel blend, offset and leading-edge straightness were all inspired by the insights and preferences of the best players and most experienced designers. Compared to the previous MG3, MG4 showcases a slightly larger footprint that provides players with a sense of roundness, smoothness and improved ease of use.
RAW FACE & NEW FINISH
There’s a reason raw wedges are preferred by the game’s best players. The unplated material will rust over time to preserve consistent spin while also delivering better performance in wet conditions. A new refined finish with a slightly darker tint minimizes glare and blends seamlessly with the raw face for a unified appearance.
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The milled grind sole, at the very least for the second, has been faraway from every head. The identical goes for the standard “TW Grind” Woods has used for years. These MG4 Proto wedges have an easier sole design that’s flatter alongside the underside with much less trailing edge aid.
“Historically my soles have been just about customary in width, a bit of extra rounded than some guys, simply because I like to make use of totally different components of the bounce, relying on what shot I’m going to make use of,” Woods instructed me in 2017. “However it actually hasn’t modified that a lot in like 15 years or so. It’s been just about the identical.”
So why would Woods change his wedge setup for a significant championship? The reply can doubtless be present in his response to the best way the “surrounds across the greens” have modified from his earlier journeys to Pinehurst in 1999 and 2005.
“I performed it beneath bentgrass,” Woods stated. “So now having Bermuda, it’s very totally different. It’s grainy. We had the grain on the greens throughout these Open Championships, and so they had been softer than they’re now. Granted, I do know the surrounds had been burnt out in ’05, however the greens weren’t like what they’re proper now. That’s very totally different.
“The shot picks across the greens I feel are extra plentiful this 12 months from both placing it to wedging it. As you stated, 6- or 7-irons. I’ve used lengthy irons and woods across the greens, and I’ve seen numerous guys do the identical factor. There’s plenty of totally different shot picks, and the grain goes to play an enormous a part of it.”
As short-game guru Parker McLachlin identified on social media, Woods is probably going enjoying wedges with extra bounce this week. That doesn’t imply it’s considerably greater than the said 11 levels stamped on every head. As a substitute of including main and trailing edge aid to the wedges to make them play otherwise relying on how the top is positioned, the complicated geometry seems to have been eliminated for a extra conventional sole that might preserve the forefront peak extra constant whatever the shot.
Regardless that the areas across the inexperienced complexes at Pinehurst are extraordinarily tight, the “grainy” Bermuda — particularly if it’s into the grain — could cause the membership to stay by affect.
On this case, including ahead shaft lean to the sand or lob wedge goes to decrease the bounce, which may enhance the potential for the dreaded chunk. Including bounce ensures the wedge can get by the turf with out situation. It’s a small adjustment that might pay large dividends for Woods when he must execute a deft wedge shot this week.
