Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson is no stranger to taking some wingers with his gear while prepping for a major. In 2005 at Baltusrol it was the two-driver strategy that paid off, in 2006 he went with a 64-degree wedge to combat the fast greens at Winged Foot. And we all remember the 47.5-inch driver built to hit “bombs” in 2020.
He also has opted for the “higher handicap” Callaway Epic forged irons to compensate for Augusta National’s into-the-grain mowing technique, giving him an easier time launching the ball high with a softer landing.
In a nutshell, Mickelson will do anything to find a small advantage. But how can you blame him? He’s won major championships doing it.
During the LIV Miami press conference this week I asked Mickelson if he had any tweaks in store for Augusta.
“I remember back in the ’80s when, I guess the ’70s when Ray Floyd won and Curtis Strange in ’85 when they were playing the course, they were putting a 5-wood in the bag for the par-5s, and now that the tees have been moved back on some of the holes, that’s actually a club for me that is going to come into play, so I’ve been working on a 5-wood in the offseason,” Mickelson said. “I’ve got one I really like and that I anticipate hitting into 13 and 15 based on the last couple of years where my ball is ending up off the tee and the yardage I have left. That’s one club that I’ve been working on.
“I tried to get a 7-wood in the bag. It didn’t quite work out for me,” he continued. “Some of these guys hit that 6- and 7-wood incredible. I over-spin it, so it’s not really a great club for me, but the 5-wood is a club I anticipate hitting like a high cut into 13 and 15.”
There’s actually two clubs in question here: a 5-wood at 7-wood length (the club Mickelson mentions) and a 4-wood build. The shorter build is ideal for what Phil was discussing in the presser — when fairway woods are cut shorter, it allows the player to stay more on top of it and control it almost like an iron. Cutting fairway woods down are also an effective speed governor for players.
Anything is in play here, and I think it makes a ridiculous amount of sense.
If a switch is made, a hybrid would swap in for the shorter 5-wood.
The Masters 5-wood:
Ping G430 18° at 18° (STD Setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design AD VF 9x (tip 2” 41.5” D4)
and
Ping G430 18° at 16.25 (Flat minus setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design AD VF 8x (tip 1, 42.25, D4)
ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Ping
Another new-ish edition to Phil’s bag leading into Augusta is a brand new Callaway Elyte (core model) driver and the highly coveted Forged JPN irons (with a fun PM grind). Phil told me that the higher MOI profile at a low loft seemed to give him the best of both worlds. It had the speed and lower spin profile of a Triple Diamond head with the launch and forgiveness of the core head — a two for one.
Driver: Callaway Elyte (Core) 9 at 7 (N/-2, 46 EOG, D5, 19GB, 2GF)
Shaft: MCA White Board 63TX (Tipped 1)
Callaway Elyte Custom Driver
View Product
ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway
It’s going to be a fun week ahead. We will be on-site at Augusta, on the trucks and on property. Lots more to come.
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