Inside the Field: Barracuda Championship

The man whose putting lessons will help many pros at The Open

Click here to read the full article…

Bryson DeChambeau opened his 2018-19 PGA TOUR season with a win at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The victory came with a new Cobra King F9 Speedback driver in the bag that made the cut in Las Vegas following an extensive testing session. Last season, DeChambeau spent a majority of the time using Cobra’s Ltd Pro before making the switch to F8+ Nardo at THE NORTHERN TRUST. DeChambeau wasted little time moving from F8+ into F9 Speedback after noticing an improved launch and decrease in spin during testing. “The spin is a lot lower, even than the F8,” DeChambeau told PGATOUR.COM during a recent one-on-one interview. “I’m a high-spin player who needs the least amount of spin possible on the driver and even the longer irons. For me, them moving the CG lower and having better aerodynamics made this driver easier to test. Feel like I’m able to really embrace the design and already have the confidence to pull off certain shot shapes.” DeChambeau, who ranked sixth in Strokes Gained: Off-the tee, went up one-degree in loft but retained the same TPT Model 14 MKP LT shaft at 45.5 inches. While he didn’t have a memorable week with the putter — 45th in Strokes Gained: Putting — DeChambeau’s Sik Pro C-Series produced the biggest shot of the tournament on the par-5 16th hole — a 58-foot eagle from just off the green that gave him a one-shot cushion. The DLT (Descending loft technology) planar face descends in loft by one-degree to achieve a consistent shaft angle at impact. The end result is a putter that optimizes launch for a consistent roll. Here’s a look at DeChambeau’s entire bag setup: Driver: Cobra King F9 Speedback (TPT Model 14 MKP LT shaft at 45.5 inches), 9 degrees 3-wood: Cobra King LTD 3/4 (Project X HZRDUS Black 85X shaft at 43 inches), 14.5 degrees 5-wood: Cobra King F8+ Baffler (Project X HZRDUS Black 85X shaft at 41 inches), 17.5 degrees   Irons: Cobra King One Length Utility (4-5; True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 shafts at 37.5 inches), Cobra Forged One Length (6-PW; True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 shafts at 37.5 inches) Wedges: Cobra King V Grind (50 degrees; True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 shaft at 37.5 inches), Cobra King WideLow Grind (55 and 60 degrees; True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 shafts at 37.5 inches) Putter: SIK Pro C-Series Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE: Buy equipment here

Click here to read the full article…

From Tiger putting on a show to Gary Woodland’s late run to large crowds for the Tour’s first-ever stop in Japan, a lot happened in Round 1 at the Zozo Championship.

Click here to read the full article…