All the Gear: Which driver has been hitting it furthest at Augusta?
By James Savage
We’ve seen lots of new equipment on show at the 2017 Masters but let’s take a look at which clubs have been leading the stats.
It’s interesting to see which of these categories have had more of an impact on the leaderboard…
Driving distance: Brooks Koepka’s TaylorMade M2
The impact of the weather over the first two days has been really highlighted in the average driving distances.
Brooks Koepka is leading the way with his 2016 TaylorMade M2 after averaging just over 310 yards in round three.
In round one it was a measly 278 and up to 297 for the second round.
Koepka has his driver set to 9.5˚ with a Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana D+ 70TX shaft.
Driving accuracy: Soren Kjeldsen’s TaylorMade M2
The Dane is one of the shortest hitters in the field (only three players have been shorter) but he hit a superb 88 percent of fairways, missing just five over his three rounds, also with his 2016 TaylorMade M2 driver.
Kjeldsen has a 10.5˚ head and uses a yellow UST Mamiya Elements Wind 6X shaft.
Greens in regulation: Justin Thomas’ Titleist 716 MBs
It has been a quiet week for a player who was the hottest in the world a couple of months ago.
He has hit more greens than any other player with his Titleist 716 MB irons (42 out of 54).
But at Augusta, the hard work starts when you get to the green.
Putts per hole: Rickie Fowler’s Scotty Cameron Newport 2 prototype
If you’re a great ball-striker, like Rickie, then a good week with the putter should see you high up on the leaderboard.
And with just 1.47 putts per hole and two three-putts all week with his Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Prototype, it’s no surprise to see Fowler right up there.
Rickie usually hits his short putts to the back of the cup to take out the break and hovers the club quite high off the ground before making his stroke
Sand saves: Sergio Garcia’s TaylorMade Milled Grind Wedges
Obviously it makes sense to not go in the bunkers but Sergio had a 100 percent up and down rate for his four visits to the sand.
The new TaylorMade Milled Grind wedges have been an instant hit with the Spaniard and his fellow staffers Justin Rose, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson.
Any other business? Charley Hoffman’s green glove
We’re probably doing the Hoff a disservice as he’s very much still in the mix here.
And he’s actually made more birdies on the par-3s (five) than any other player with his Titleist 716 AP2 and 714 MBs.
But what’s the green glove all about?
It’s actually a limited edition FootJoy StaSof that Hoffman started wearing in 2007 as part of a sponsorship by Waste Management and their Green Glove charity.
Be sure to ask your pro to order you one in when you get back to your home course.
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James Savage
Former equipment editor of NCG. Inconsistent ball-striker and tea-maker.
