British Open 2019: Tiger Woods’ driver among those tested by R&A

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Tiger Woods’ TaylorMade M5 driver was among those selected for testing by the R&A after Monday’s practice round.

For the second consecutive year, the Open Championship’s governing body has conducted driver testing to ensure clubheads stay within the legal limits.

Last year, R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said none of the 30 drivers violated testing limits, which essentially measure the spring-like effect of the driver clubface. The CT Test measures “characteristic time,” the measurement of a driver’s rebound effect via a tiny spring-loaded pendulum device impacting the face of a driver.

The R&A confirmed to GOLF.com that a similar number of tests are being conducted at the 2019 Open. Participants selected for testing are random, according to the R&A, although Rory McIlroy noted last year that TaylorMade was “singled out a bit more than anyone else.”

After his Monday practice round alongside Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler, Woods handed over his driver to his manager Rob McNamara to bring to testing, which is conducted on the driving range at Royal Portrush.

Woods introduced his current M5 driver at the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open and has played with it in every round in 2019. He tees off on Thursday alongside Patrick Reed and Matt Wallace at 10:10 a.m.

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