Barber, Saldana win Women’s Amateur Four-ball

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – There was much made of the calendar switch from May to March for THE PLAYERS Championship. In the equipment world, many wondered if there was going to be an equipment trend that would follow – different wedge grinds, a different set makeup at the top end of the bag, or possibly more equipment testing given it’s new positioning ahead of The Masters. TOUR reps from several different companies, and players themselves, however, said that March versus May had little-to-no effect on a trend of equipment changes. That being said, a few specific players made changes this week at THE PLAYERS. Here are the highlights of all the noteworthy club changes this week. Mickelson’s Epic Flash Sub Zero one-diamond proto Phil Mickelson went on record proclaiming that he’d use a Callaway Rogue driver at least until The Masters, instead of the Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero prototype he played early in 2019. He did, in fact, switch back into a Callaway Epic Flash driver at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, however. At THE PLAYERS, PGATOUR.COM took photos of his new Epic Flash that has just one diamond lasered onto the hosel, instead of the three-diamond prototype he used previously in 2019. Bryson’s festive headcovers The most noteworthy piece of equipment given the event’s place on the calendar was Bryson DeChambeau’s headcovers, honoring St. Patrick’s Day. The gold colorway of the covers could actually have a dual meaning; signifying the Irish “pot of gold,� and the new PLAYERS trophy is all gold. The headcovers are also imprinted with his initials “BD,� and they have four-leaf clovers stitched into them. DeChambeau also had a St. Patrick’s Day-themed golf bag made by Vessel. Tiger’s fresh wedge Tiger Woods, who’s been known to put fresh wedges in the bag ahead of majors, put a new 60-degree TaylorMade Milled Grind wedge in the bag for THE PLAYERS. There was much speculation on social media that it was a new wedge grind for the week, but his caddie Joe LaCava assured PGATOUR.COM that it was simply a new wedge made with the same specs and grind as his previous 60-degree wedge. Woods’ lob wedge is made with 11 degrees of bounce on the sole. Click here to see Tiger’s full WITB for 2019. Tony Finau makes a big switch Finau has used Accra prototype shafts in his metalwoods for his entire tenure as a Ping staffer, but that changed at THE PLAYERS. He switched into new Mitsubishi Diamana RF-series shafts in his Ping G410 Plus driver and three wood. While he picked up about 5 mph of ball speed, according to a Ping representative, the main reason for the switch was his ability to start the ball more on line with the shafts, yet still allowed for him to hit the fade he prefers. Click here for more information and photos on Finau’s new shafts. Patrick Reed makes a huge iron change Reed, who’s used a mix of Callaway MB-1 prototype irons and Razr X MB irons for years, put a Titleist 718 CB 4-iron and Titleist 718 MB irons (5-PW) in the bag this week due to their look, turf interaction and higher launch. They have loads of lead tape on the bottom portion of their back cavities. The 4-iron is equipped with a True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT X100 shaft, and the 5-PW are equipped with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts. After switching to a Srixon Z-Star for the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Reed switched back to a Titleist Pro V1 for the rest of that event, and he stayed with the Pro V1 at THE PLAYERS. Brandt Snedeker’s golf ball and shaft switch up Snedeker has used a Bridgestone golf ball for quite some time on TOUR, but he switched to a Srixon Z-Star XV golf ball at THE PLAYERS. He also conducted extensive driver testing ahead of the event, testing heads and shafts from various companies. Ultimately, he went with the TaylorMade M5 driver head he’s used throughout 2019, but switched from a Fujikura Speeder shaft to a Fujikura Ventus 6X. Jason Dufner changing it (back) up Dufner, who’s been bouncing around with different flatsticks lately, put his custom-made Scotty Cameron putter back in play that he’s used off-and-on since 2015. This time around, however, it has an LA Golf Shafts Ozik putter shaft in it. Also, while Dufner’s been experimenting with a Cobra driver for weeks (but hasn’t put in play during competition), he switched from his gamer Titleist driver to a Ping G410 Plus driver that’s equipped with a Project X HZRDUS Yellow shaft. Ryan Moore goes to Toulon Moore, who made headlines for not having to putt at all after making a slam-dunk hole-in-one on No. 17 this week, has been switching putters plenty so far in 2019. At THE PLAYERS, Moore put a new Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas putter in play with a Stroke Lab shaft. Champ goes back to iBlades While Champ was one of the numerous Ping staffers to switch into Blueprint irons in 2019, he switched back into the iBlade irons he played in 2018, and when he captured his first PGA TOUR victory. Along with switching heads, he also went back to the KBS Tour C-Taper 130X iron shafts. Champ switched into an LA Golf Shafts prototype driver shaft at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but he returned to a Fujikura Pro Tour Spec shaft at THE PLAYERS that he’s played throughout his professional career. Hideki goes to a TaylorMade driver Hideki Matsuyama is no stranger to making club changes. His staff bag is routinely filled with 20+ clubs during any given practice round day. But while his bag is typically packed with different irons and wedges, Matsuyama switched from a Callaway Epic Flash driver to a TaylorMade M5 driver at THE PLAYERS. He switched heads but not shafts; his new driver remains equipped with a Graphite Design Tour AD-DI shaft. For more equipment photos from THE PLAYERS, check out our full gallery. 

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OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – News and notes from Thursday’s first round of THE NORTHERN TRUST, the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs. Russell Henley has the clubhouse lead after an opening 6-under 64. PHIL BEGINS HIS AUDITION Phil Mickelson teed off Thursday with eight rounds to make a good impression on U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Steve Stricker. A 2-over 72, on the surface, doesn’t seem a score he could point to as proof his game is coming around. But Mickelson was happy that he hit 11 of 14 fairways and “hitting iron shots with ease.� His confidence level appeared much different than two weeks ago, when he missed the cut for the first time in 22 starts at the PGA Championship, admitting afterwards he had lost focus. “I’m going to have a good week,� Mickelson insisted Thursday. “I know that it’s not the greatest start, but it’s not bad, either.� He needs a good week. Ranked 18th on the U.S. team list, it’s unlikely Mickelson will move into the top 10 that earn automatic spots after next week’s Dell Technologies Championship. But two good weeks could convince Stricker to make him a captain’s pick and extend his streak of Presidents Cup appearances. He’s played in every one since the event’s debut in 1994. “I would love to be on that team, but I’ve got to bring something to the table,� Mickelson said. “… I’m very optimistic on the way I’m playing, but the scores are not reflecting that yet.� Stricker has indicated he would ask Mickelson for an honest assessment of his game before making the captain’s picks. Mickelson promised he “will be� honest. After missing the cut in the last two majors and posting only one top-10 in his last 11 starts, Mickelson now sees positive signs. “I feel like my game’s coming around,� he said. “I hope it’s in time to make the team.� UNDER THE RADAR Two years ago, Jason Day started the Playoffs ranked No. 2 in points. A year ago, he was No. 1. This week, he starts off 49th. It’s his lowest starting point in the last five seasons. It’s the reason he had no pre-tournament media obligations, and that his tee time was earlier-than-usual on Thursday. He was also a sponsor’s pick for Wednesday’s Pro-Am instead of having one of the spots reserved for players higher up in the FedExCup standings. “I’m like, whoa, what’s going on here?� Day said with a laugh. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been one of those.� Ranked ninth in the world, Day said he’s flying under the radar this week. He doesn’t mind it, and his 1-under 69 on Thursday leaves him well-positioned to make a move in the next three rounds. But he understands why he’s not in heavy demand at Glen Oaks. “It’s humbling being in a position like this because I know I’ve had it good for a long time,� Day said. “Through some poor play this year, I haven’t been in the position that I would like to be, and humbling as in I need to work a lot harder than what I’m doing right now.� BAD TURNS TO GOOD In Russell Henley’s last two starts, he finished T-66 and T-71. Outside of his five missed cuts, those are the worst results he’s had all season. His explanation was a simple one. “My attitude was just bad,� he said. His 12-over performance in his last start at the PGA Championship left him frustrated. He also felt tired, as he’s still trying to figure out the balance between practice and rest. But now the Playoffs are here, and he feels energized. Entering Glen Oaks 19th in points (thanks mostly to his Shell Houston Open win), Henley needs simply to maintain his position through the first three events in order to advance to the TOUR Championship for the second time in his career. Unfamiliar with the course, he took a conservative approach Thursday and it paid off. The 64, which included eight birdies, was just his third round in red numbers in his last 13 rounds on TOUR, and matches his second-lowest score of the year. Will he maintain his conservative play the next three days? He’s not sure. “I don’t know if that’s necessarily the way to do it,� he said. Seems like it was certainly the way to do it Thursday. QUOTE OF THE DAY I don’t think they were quite sure they were going to play No. 1 as a par 4 or 5 yet, so I played it as a par-5 when I came – which I liked a lot better. ODDS AND ENDS Glen Oaks was playing to favorable reviews in its first competitive round as a PGA TOUR course. Superintendent Craig Currier was at the players’ entrance to the clubhouse, seeking opinions and suggestions from the pros. He was hearing lots of good things. Consider this from Patrick Cantlay after his 3-under 67: “I think the golf course is great. It rewards really good shots and penalizes mediocre ones.� … Justin Thomas, in his first round since winning the PGA Championship, was 2 over through his first eight holes and finding it difficult to get focused. He turned to his caddie Jimmy Johnson and said, “I’m having a hard time with this today and I need your help.� A 24-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole – his ninth of the day – got him back on track, as he rallied to shoot a 2-under 68. “I’m more proud of rounds like today than I am when I play really well,� Thomas said. … Thomas’ good friend Jordan Spieth burned several edges with his putts en route to a 1-under 69. “I burned high lip, low lip, left lip, right lip today for most of the round,� Spieth said. “Felt like a 4- or 5-under round.� … After shooting a 4-over 74, FedExCup points leader Hideki Matsuyama spent time on the practice green. He needed 33 putts on his round, connecting on just two putts outside 8 feet.

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DeChambeau, the tournament favorite, had an up-and-down first round. He finished at 2-under for the day, but that doesn’t tell everything about his long-hitting, shot-hooking, bush-finding day at Augusta National.

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