What's in Tiger's U.S. Open bag?
SAN DIEGO —
Torrey Pines South Course was a brutal test this year. The 7,643-yard layout demanded distance while the deep Kikuyu rough put a premium on accuracy.
The clubs that Tiger Woods uses are not designed to be forgiving; he demands the utmost feel and is more concerned with being able to shape shots than straighten a slice.
Unlike Phil Mickelson, who loves to tinker with his set composition, Woods rarely makes changes. When courses are running fast and the rough is not especially wet or deep, he commonly takes out his 19° 5-wood and puts in a 2-iron. As you might recall, he used the 2-iron off the tee on many occasions at Royal Liverpool when he won the 2006 British Open. Here at Torrey Pines, the 5-wood is in the bag under a Kiwi bird head cover (an homage to his caddie, Steve Williams, who is from New Zealand).
Tiger Woods Clubs:
Driver Nike SasQuatch Tour (7.5°)
Fairway woods Nike SasQuatch Sumo (15°, 19°)
Irons Nike Forged Blades (3-PW)
Wedges Nike Forged (56°, 60°)
Putter Titleist by Scotty Cameron Newport 2
Ball Nike One Platinum
(Bag photo by Simon Bruty)
UPDATE -- A comment listed below was posted on Wednesday morning that said Tiger uses a steel shaft in his driver. According to Nike, and as verified by photo research, he uses is a Mitsubishi Diamana 83 X graphite shaft that happens to be silver in color. To see it more clearly, click on the photo on the right.
(Woods photo by Al Tielemans/SI)
Posted by: Ace Ryan | Oct 4, 2009 7:19:49 PM
If parents are complaining about Tiger's behavior how about this, When you win 18 majors the you can do whatever you want with your clubs, whatever!
Posted by: Justin Blair | Jul 12, 2008 9:29:38 PM
Sadly, it's not just Tiger that does deplorable things on the golf course, but they are no less vulgar. It's funny when I think that most people on a Sunday afternoon would see a guy in the next fairway throw his club and think "loser" or "a$$hole" (and yes, they're thinking it about you when you do it, as well), but Tiger does it and everybody thinks he should be put into Sainthood.
Curtis Strange got a dressing down from Arnold Palmer for his behavior at Bay Hill, according to Golf magazine, so why doesn't Arnie, Gary and/or Jack put Tiger in his place (and remember, Strange was a top golfer in the late 80's)? They're scared of upsetting him. He'll take his ball, his sponsors and his big-money tournament and walk away. Which, subsequently, the PGA Tour would collapse like an imploding building, or so says all the "experts".
Maybe if the PGA and other golf media outlets would bother letting the rest of the world know about other young up-and-comers without christening them "The Next Tiger" people would be more interested. Instead, these young men get put on the BBQ by every Tiger-lover and fair weather fan that they go into a reclusion. So what if someone like Jason Day wants to be #1? What's wrong with him saying that? If he didn't, what would be the point of playing the tournaments? The way most people act, Tiger should be given the winner's trophy whether he shows up or not!
He definitely put golf in the spotlight in the modern era, but for what?
Switching gears a little, why does he have to buy almost a whole penninsula, tearing down a $10 million house in the process? For his privacy. He has had the weight of the media-related world on his shoulders since he came on the scene. How is this fair to him? Or the other golfers, for that matter? Everybody, from the fair-weather fan to "rev" Al Sharpton have put enormous pressure on him to champion their causes, or as I'd like to call it, "Using him". He's a good golfer, yes, but he's human, too.
How about this... lay off him a bit, let's support some of these younger guys so they want to win without the backlash, and when Tiger gets to about 16 or 17 majors, THEN pour the media coverage on? Everyone would win: Tiger gets his privacy without the paranoia; the fans get to realize there are more golfers other than Tiger and Phil; The PGA would win by keeping a strong fanbase when Tiger needs time away. Everybody wins.
Posted by: A.J. | Jul 8, 2008 4:28:37 PM
First Tiger uses a Scotty Cameron Studio Stainless Newport 2 putter with a PING grip. Tiger used steel shafts until the SasQuatch gen. came out.The only reason why everybody makes a big deal out of Tiger throwing clubs and cussing is because every camera and mike are on him. There are alot of other golfers that are hot heads. Pat Perez,Rory Sabbatini and Geoff Ogilvy in his first years, but no one is watching them as much as Tiger. Hell if you're complaining on spitting Sergio has done the worst. He spit into the hole after he missed a par putt. Look it up on YouTube and then stop b***tching
Posted by: David | Jun 20, 2008 11:22:38 AM
Why is it that the list containing "Drivers used by golf's Top 10" says Tigers driver is 7.5 degrees, yet here it says 9.5?
See Link playershttp://www.golf.com/golf/gallery/article/0,28242,1809703,00.html
Posted by: Korvyn | Jun 20, 2008 1:04:12 AM
Tiger used a steel shafted driver up to 2004 i believe. He will never be the greatest golfer to me personally for one simple fact. Strength of competition. Think of the Bobby Jones era and the legends of that time he played against. Think of the Nicklaus era and the level of competition he had to play. Tiger gets a run for his money about once a year. He isn't playing the likes of Player, Palmer, Seve and those types of guys every week. I think tiger is the second best player ever but for every miracle putt or shot he has pulled off Nicklaus has one in his history as well. just my opinion on the subject.
Posted by: Robert | Jun 18, 2008 2:05:44 PM
Must be all young golfers who are commenting on this subject. Those of us who are upper middle age can very well remember the ultimate club tosser Tommy Bolt - thowing clubs was an art form for him. Curtis Strange slammed clubs into his bag. Even the great Bobby Jones early in his career was a club thrower. Besides it does not happen on a frequent basis. There have been more accurate golfers (i.e., Ben Hogan), perphaps better drivers of the ball (i.e., Jack Nicklaus) or sand players (i.e., Gary Player), however, no one has ever had so complete a package from putting to short game to irons and woods than Tiger. Kind of like when the when the Titleist Pro V came on the scene. It did not excel in any one category but did well in all categories.
Posted by: Mike | Jun 18, 2008 8:13:43 AM
Tiger has always used a steel shafted driver.
Posted by: Yard Sale | Jun 18, 2008 1:32:44 AM
Tiger does use A Scotty Cameron putter but he used to use a Ping putter in his younger years and prefers to use a Ping grip for his putter.
Posted by: marc r | Jun 17, 2008 11:47:45 PM
I don't remember which hole it was during the sunday round, but a close up camera shot of woods lining up a putt showed the name PING on his worn putter grip. Either he likes the grip on his Newport 2 or he was using a PING putter not a Titleist.
I'm curious if anyone else has a word on that.
As for the guys who don't like occasional spitting and tossing a club on your bag, give up the membership and the argyle socks, stay home and hang out with your wife. Guaranteed she won't spit. The game has long passed you by.
marc
Posted by: wil maui | Jun 17, 2008 10:38:33 PM
Interesting. . . Show me a gentleman who never display emotions, like anger. . . boring!
Posted by: David | Jun 17, 2008 8:55:52 PM
no one would doubt how great Tiger is,
but throwing clubs and spitting is definately not a thing you would expect a gentleman to do.
and golf , even if it has become the pop sport these days, is still very much a gentleman/woman sport.
Posted by: Tiger Who? | Jun 17, 2008 5:02:05 PM
Has Tiger done more for tha game than anyone? Probably. What sucks though is that before he came on the scene I used to be able to get a tee time on any golf course in Colorado on a Sat. or Sun. morning and now everyone and their mother is out there hacking at balls. It sucks! I had to learn on a par 3 course when I was a kid and the big boys would give you the stink eye if you were out there on a chanmpionship course hacking away.
Dont get me wrong I love that he has excited a new generation of golfers but anything over 4.5 hours for a round is ridiculous. If you cant play stay on a par 3 course till you can. It's not a gentlemans game anymore.
Thanks Tiger, Happy Gilmore, and the FBR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Kob | Jun 17, 2008 4:28:39 PM
For those who feel "such behavior isn't tolerated in a gentlemen's game", Golf is not the game you should allow your kids to watch. Please turn your channel to NHL-Hockey and WWF. Those teach them the true meaning of sportsmanship.
Posted by: Vash | Jun 17, 2008 3:18:30 PM
if you are worried for your kids when you watch Tiger throw his clubs in disgust, then you don't know passion. Passion & love for the game that drives Tiger to greatness, we should all realize that, as long as you are not hurting/causing danger to anybody, than i don't see an issue. take away Passion & love, then you take away the competitive nature.
Posted by: JT | Jun 17, 2008 2:48:01 PM
After reading all of this information on pentalty's and fine's it all BS-- Fines are one thing- penalty for throwing down your club? BS, it does not change the way a child plays, and if you have any parenting skills and are involved in thier life then it does not matter if the child sees that happen- take control of your children and stop worring about everyone else!
Posted by: John Herzo | Jun 17, 2008 1:40:54 PM
All every interesting comments. As for clubs, I thought I saw Tiger using a steel shafted diver. Does that qualify as tinkering? But more important, fining a player for poor behavior during a competetion isn't enough because the fine does not effect the outcome of the event. In most other sports the referee(s) have the authority to disqualify a player or couch from the event, or at least give the opponents a free throw or two. Fining after an event and keeping the fine secret does nothing for me. Kids should see the outcome. Give the guy a penalty stroke or two and let the public know that such behavior isn't tolerated in a gentlemen's game
Posted by: Jher1 | Jun 17, 2008 1:37:35 PM
The Man (Tiger), the Myth (Phil)! Tiger is the greatest golfer to ever live, no disrepest to Jack or Arnie, but even they agree when the sun goes down there is only one great one, Tiger! Here is the proof, Tiger and Phil tee of first day together, Tiger is 2+ and Phil 1+. Next day, Tiger is -2, one off the lead, and Phil is 4+.....do you need more proof Tiger Haters! Plus, there are better golfers than Phil, he doesn't deserve 2nd, he just plays more than most!
Posted by: Brian D. | Jun 17, 2008 9:43:19 AM
This goes to show you that it is the person (golfer) not the equipment that makes the man. The fact that Tiger doesn't change his clubs that often shows how much more skill he has than the field. People like Phil depend on the club to make the difference, when he should focus on what he is doing instead.
Posted by: Clifton | Jun 17, 2008 5:30:55 AM
Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer the world has ever seen.We should consider ourselfs lucky to live in this lifetime and witness this super human do his thing.People like him comes along only onces ever 100 years!!!!!!
Posted by: fool | Jun 17, 2008 1:46:15 AM
by the way, they DO get fined and tiger gets fined the most on tour
Posted by: rachel | Jun 16, 2008 6:51:28 PM
tiger does get angry but then he is over it and he is focused on the next shot. he can get mad and the forget about it, which is something that a lot of junior golfers should try. don't let one bad shot ruin your round.
Posted by: sean | Jun 16, 2008 5:15:35 PM
awww, someone sounds like a disgruntled Phil fan or something. Tiger Woods has done more for the golf than anyone in history. Driving revenues, getting golf televised in primetime etc, and all you have to say is that he should get penalized for throwing clubs. Shut the **** up. 18 majors by 2009 Tiger, cmon.
Posted by: john randall | Jun 16, 2008 10:58:31 AM
If the youth of today threw their clubs during a tournament they would be penalized why does Tigers bad example of throwing clubs go unpunished not a good example