AGE 47
LIVES Duluth, Georgia
STORY Winner of seven PGA Tour events, including the 2009 Open Championship and 2020 Safeway Open.
TECH TALK If I hadn’t been a golfer, I would have been an engineer. I just think that way about my clubs. This has allowed me to adapt to the extensive changes in equipment over the years. A good look, attractive sound and sweet feel combine to inspire confidence in my equipment, and that’s critical to my success. I don’t want any surprises on the course. – with E. Michael Johnson
Driver
SPECS Ping G425 LST, 10.25°, Graphite Design Tour XC-6 TX shaft, 45.25 inches.
I want a driver I can curve both ways. I have about five grams added to the heel area to help me turn it over easier when I need to. The shaft is about half an inch shorter than stock, which helps me control the club during the swing.
Fairway woods
SPECS Ping G425 Max, 15.5°, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 70 TX shaft; Ping G425 Max, 19.5°; Accra FX 2.0 360 MS shaft.
I have 5-wood and 7-wood heads, but I drop the lofts so the 5-wood plays more like a 3-wood and the 7-wood plays more like a 5-wood. Doing this gives me the flight, shape and trajectory I’m looking for without the ball ballooning on me.
Irons
SPECS Ping i210 (4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts; Golf Pride Tour Velvet 58R grips.
I look for my irons to handle mis-hits well, and these do a terrific job. I played forged blades for a long time, but the predictability of an iron with more perimeter weighting is invaluable.
Wedges
SPEC Ping i210 (50°), Titleist Vokey SM8 (55.5°, 61.5°); True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts.
I’m maybe the only player on tour using a set wedge for a gap wedge, but it’s a full-swing club, and I feel it should match my other full-swing irons. I replace my 55.5- degree wedge four times a year and my lob wedge eight times. They get a lot of work.
Putter
SPECS Ping Vault 2.0 Ketsch, 35.75 inches, 2.5° loft, Ping AVS putter grip.
This putter went in the bag about 18 months ago during a rehab start on the Korn Ferry Tour. The alignment line matched up well with the line on my ball. I have two of these putters. They’re identical, but when my gamer doesn’t work well, the other will see a little bit of action.
Distance ball
I’ve gone back and forth between the Titleist Pro V1 and V1x but use the latter at the moment. I find a ball that works best with my driver. I can make it work with everything else.
Perpetual gift
There’s a fan I see every year who gives me coins. They’re not valuable, but they’re cool-looking. I’ll use one of them or my Georgia Tech ball marker. I put one small and one large coin in my pocket for each round.
Practice time
These training aids are always in my golf bag. I use the tee, rope and fake hole disc for a putting drill every day for five to 10 minutes. If you do something every day, you’re more likely to retain it.
PHOTOGRAPHS: Dom Furore
