Justin Thomas claims PGA Championship, will play THE NORTHERN TRUST next week

LAS VEGAS – A year ago, following his first PGA TOUR victory at the 2018 Sanderson Farms Championship, Cameron Champ made a number of changes to his driver and iron setups. He began using new Blueprint Forged irons and a new Ping G410 LS Tec driver but later switched back into setups with which he is more familiar: Ping’s iBlade irons and G400 Max driver, each of which he used to win the Sanderson. Recently, Champ switched again into the new Blueprint irons and a G410 LST driver. The new heads are now equipped with different shafts that allow Champ to produce the ball flights and consistency he’s looking for – and it paid off last week at the Safeway Open, as he finished off an emotional week with his second PGA TOUR win. Also, as equipment fans may have noticed in his winner’s bag on Sunday, Champ uses two 4-irons, neither of which matches his other Blueprint Forged irons (5-PW). On Monday, PGATOUR.COM caught up with Champ’s club fitter and Ping TOUR rep Kenton Oates to find out more about why Champ switched his driver and irons, why he uses two 4-irons, his crazy-low ball flight, why golfers don’t necessarily need to use blade irons, and much, much more. PGATOUR.COM: Can you take us through Cameron’s changes? KENTON OATES: “The change that started all this was when he started wanting to look at G410 LS Tec drivers in Detroit, so we did a lot of work between Detroit (Rocket Mortgage Classic) and New York (THE NORTHERN TRUST). By the time he got to New York in the Playoffs, he wanted a driver that he could hit lower and hit little cuts with. So we went even shorter in length, from 44.75 inches to 44.5 inches. We also went into a shaft that’s really stiff in the tip, the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green. Then he loved the driver. “That’s what kind of sparked us wanting to work on iron shafts. He played Blueprint irons after winning with iBlades (at the 2018 Sanderson Farms), and he actually statistically gained more shots with the Blueprints, but that change kind of came at the wrong time. So we reached out to him after the season was done, and we’re like, ‘Hey, the Blueprints were actually pretty positive. What did you like about them? What didn’t you like about them?’ “He said that he liked the shaft change to True Temper’s Dynamic Gold X100, but he felt like he wanted something stiffer the next time; maybe not as stiff as his KBS C-Taper 130X shafts. So we sent C-Tapers and True Temper Dynamic Gold X7s home with him in the Blueprint heads. Then we added our Cushin inserts into the shafts, which are 10-gram inserts that are basically plastic with ball bearings. The Cushin helps with vibration — but in this case, it was just for weight purposes. PGATOUR.COM: Where exactly does the Cushin insert go? OATES: “It depends on the shaft, but on the X7s, it goes about 12 inches down the shaft, right on the fulcrum point. So it doesn’t really change swing weight, it just adds overall weight. The whole goal with Cameron was to get him a stable club that goes straight or falls right, and the extra weight for him just makes it more consistent. We want him to hit 8-irons 181 yards, or whatever his number is, and hit that 20 times in a row. He doesn’t need any help with distance obviously. So, he tested the Blueprints out with the different shafts and showed up to Jackson (2019 Sanderson Farms) with the X7s with Cushin. He’s played two events with those, and in his second event with that setup, he won.â€� PGATOUR.COM: Is his natural ball flight a high-draw that he guards against? Or he just wants equipment that compliments his natural flight? OATES: “I think his natural ball flight is pretty low and straight, and he just knows that when he’s fading it, he can keep the ball in front of him a little bit easier. He can hit it both ways pretty easily, actually. He can naturally draw it pretty easily. He went through some swing changes last year where he was trying to hit it a little higher, and then he stopped doing that at the end of the season. Coming out in Jackson, he talked about how him and Sean (Foley, his swing coach) were working on getting back to just smashing it. He actually hits it pretty darn straight for how hard he hits it. The ball doesn’t curve much.â€� PGATOUR.COM: Can you put his ball flight in comparison to maybe a Bubba Watson, or some of the other long hitters that you guys work with? OATES: “It’s even lower. Bubba’s stock shot is an 8-degree launch, 2500-rpm cutter that looks pretty low, and Cameron’s drives would stay underneath that apex the whole time. Bubba’s far ball is then like four times higher, because that’s 14-degree launch and 2200 rpm of spin, and it’s something you can’t even put into words. “But speed creates height, and with the speed Cameron hits it … it’s just so low. He can control the face so well, and it’s like a stinger that carries 300 yards. … “You watch him hit his 4-iron and his flight doesn’t make sense. It comes out really low and it kind of stands up, and you’d expect that flight to carry like 215 yards, and it’s going 255 yards. I can’t even comprehend it.â€� PGATOUR.COM: It’s very interesting that he has two 4-irons. Can you explain the reasoning behind that? OATES: “Cameron plays an i500 4-iron that’s built to 3-iron length. The i500 has metalwood technology in the face, so that metalwood technology is going to allow for some more flex in the face at impact; that means higher ball speeds, higher launch, a little less spin. So you put that club in the hands of a guy with that type of speed — he carries that club about 275-280 yards (laughs). … “It’s basically a 4-iron that plays exactly like a 3-iron would play for him. Then he goes into an iBlade 4-iron. We sent him the Blueprints, obviously 4-PW, along with a 4 and 5-iron in the iBlade, but when he showed up to Jackson he told me when he looked down at the Blueprint 4-iron, “I can’t play this.’“ PGATOUR: Because it’s so small? OATES: “Yeah, just because of the size. The i500 is already a little bit bigger, as well, so the iBlade is kind of his progression club. The i500s have a medium size and medium offset, then the iBlade is a little bit bigger than the Blueprint.â€� PGATOUR: What’s the difference in loft between the two 4-irons that he has in the bag? OATES: “The stock loft on the i500, because of that metalwood technology, has to be a little bit lower because the face flexing adds so much loft, even for the average golfer. The actual loft is pretty close to standard, traditional 3-iron loft. I think the loft on the i500 4-iron is 21 degrees, and then his iBlade is 24 degrees, and his Blueprint 5-iron is 27 degrees. So it’s a 3-degree spread.â€� PGATOUR: That’s actually a pretty standard loft progression. When you see it as two 4-irons, it looks different than what’s actually a 3-degree spread. OATES: Yeah, for all intents and purposes [the i500 is] basically just a 3-iron for him. It has a little bit bigger head, produces a little bit more ball speed, probably hits it a little bit higher than a traditional 3-iron. And off the tee it can go because of that face technology. PGATOUR: Some golfers love playing blades, and the smallest head possible. Maybe it’s a pride thing, or impressing their group, but here’s Cameron Champ who’s a ball striker and one of the longest hitters in the game, but he’s still going with a mixed set because the 4-iron looks so small. OATES: “Exactly. His direct quote in the TOUR Van in Jackson, actually, was, ‘I think I’m fine with my Blueprint 5-iron, but I can’t play this butter knife 4-iron.’â€�

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AUGUSTA, Ga. – The roars were as loud as ever at Augusta National on Saturday as Tiger Woods continued to contend for a fifth green jacket. Woods shot a 5-under 67 to put himself in position for another magical Sunday at the Masters. Here’s a hole-by-hole look at his third round. MORE MASTERS Leaderboard | Tee times moved up for Sunday | Tales of Tiger’s equipment Tiger hole-by-hole ROUND 3 STATS: 9 of 14 fairways hit, 16 of 18 greens in regulation, 30 putts (no three-putts) 18 (par 4, 465 yards): Smashes 294-yard drive into the fairway, leaving only 164 yards to the pin at the uphill finishing hole. Slight pull on approach shot, ball winds up 35 feet left of pin. Two putts and he’s got a closing par for a third-round 67. Poulter shoots 68 and has still never shot lower than Woods in the six times they’ve played together on TOUR. Woods is just a shot behind Molinari, who is still back on the course. (Overall: 11 under) 17 (par 4, 440 yards): Finds short grass yet again with 294-yard drive, eighth hit fairway in 13 chances. Has had good control today. With 154 yards remaining, hits one of his few mediocre shots today, his ball winding up 43 feet short of the pin. Has fallen into a tie for second with Molinari getting to 12 behind him, and a two-putt par leaves him one back. (Overall: 11 under)  16 (par 3, 160 yards): Not a very gettable pin placement, four paces from the right edge, but that doesn’t dissuade Woods. His tee shot hits and sticks just inside seven feet from of the hole, giving himself a prime opportunity to roll in another birdie to tie for the lead. He converts to tie Finau and Molinari for the lead. (Overall: 11 under)  15 (par 5, 530 yards): Hits another fairway with 311-yard drive, but down the left side. Will he be blocked out? No, it turns out. With a clear look at the green, slightly overcooks second shot, ball ending up on the apron behind the green. Beautiful touch on his third shot as chip cozies up to two feet from the pin. Another birdie to pull to within just a shot of the lead, tied with Molinari and Schauffele. (Overall: 10 under) 14 (par 4, 440 yards): Woods hits his fifth fairway (of 10 chances) so far today, this time dialing back and settling for a 283-yard tee shot. Approach from 165 yards not a good one, though, coming up 37 feet short. Although he has made birdies here each of the first two days, Woods has little chance of that and two-putts for par. Up ahead of him, Finau has signed for a 64 and finished at 11 under. Woods still two back. (Overall: 9 under) 13 (par 5, 510 yards): Nearly turns easiest hole on the course into a disaster as hooks tee shot into trees, only to get a good break as the ball kicks out and remains playable. Hits a low, 160-yard hook around the trees, then skips his 69-yard third shot to six feet past the pin. Birdie putt catches the left edge. This could have been a bad hole, but it turns into a huge help as he moves back to just two behind Finau. (Overall: 9 under) 12 (par 3, 146 yards): With Finau getting to 11 under ahead of him, Woods is now three behind. Wedge shot flies a bit too far, settling 18 feet behind the pin. Overcast skies have given way to warm sunshine as Woods walks across Hogan Bridge, over Rae’s Creek. He’s been good from this range this week, but leaves birdie try just a few inches short. Easy par. (Overall: 8 under)  11 (par 4, 505 yards): Loses 341-yard tee shot right, but tells ball to go even farther right as it’s in the air. Takes nature walk amid the Georgia pines, temporarily losing sight of caddie Joe LaCava, and discovers he’s gotten his wish: The ball has come to rest in a clearing 156 yards from the pin. Hits a fine approach shot out of the trees to 33 feet behind the hole. Two-putt par. (Overall: 8 under)    10 (par 4, 495 yards): Hits 3-wood off tee and shapes perfectly for downhill, right-to-left fairway. Ball stops 303 yards away, leaving 187-yard approach. With Tony Finau first to reach 10 under well ahead, Woods is two back. Hits approach shot to fat of the green, leaving 23-foot birdie attempt. Birdie try burns the top edge of the cup and rolls two feet past. Taps in for par. (Overall: 8 under)   FRONT 9 STATS: 4 of 7 fairways hit, 7 of 9 greens in regulation, 15 putts 9 (par 4, 495 yards): First bad shot of the day, a wild right miss off the tee, comes on a hole where he’s historically struggled to hit the fairway. From pine straw hits a bullet that winds up 35 yards short of the green. Gets out of trouble, though, with a pitch to three feet below the hole. Makes it for a par to shoot 2-under 34 on the front nine. Still one back. (Overall: 8 under)   8 (par 5, 570 yards): Splits fairway with a 314-yard beauty, leaving just 265 yards to the back pin location. Second shot, too, is on target, traveling 266 yards and settling just 11 feet from the pin. Primed to make his fourth career eagle on the eighth, Woods, alas, misses and taps in for his third straight birdie. He’s back to just one off the lead, as he was to start the day. The other good news is it’s his first red number on the hole after a par Thursday and bogey Friday. (Overall: 8 under) 7 (par 4, 450 yards): Phil Mickelson, playing up ahead, used a long iron here, but after first birdie of the day Woods swings driver and 309-yard tee shot splits the fairway. Still chomping on that gum (like Phil), still fighting course to a draw on these difficult first seven holes. Hits 147-yard approach shot to mere inches from the pin for a tap-in birdie, his second in a row. Now in red numbers on the day. (Overall: 7 under) 6 (par 3, 180 yards): With many others going low on moving day, Woods seems to be stuck in neutral. His tee shot soars over the pin but too long, leaving himself an 18-footer for birdie. Woods led the field in putting from outside 20 feet the first two days (5/15), and coaxes his left-to-right birdie effort into the cup for his first birdie of the day. He’s back to even on the day. (Overall: 6 under) 5 (par 4, 495 yards): The hardest hole on the course, which he’s bogeyed each of the first two days, Woods gets in trouble immediately, pulling his 293-yard drive into the yawning left bunker. With a huge lip in front of him he has no choice but to lay up with a lofted iron, his ball coming down 87 yards short of the green. Third shot winds up 21 feet short of pin, and he misses par try. Taps in for third bogey here in three days. He’s now four back of Finau. (Overall: 5 under)    4 (par 3, 227 yards): Playing partner Ian Poulter has never beat Woods in the five times they’ve played together on the PGA TOUR. With both having started with three straight pars, both hit solid tee shots, Woods some 15 feet left of the pin. He narrowly misses his slight left-to-right birdie putt on the high side for his fourth straight par. With Tony Finau reaching 9 under ahead of him, Woods has gone from one behind to start the day to three behind. (Overall: 6 under)  3 (par 4, 350 yards): Driver down the right side of the fairway leaves a difficult angle to the left pin, with the green running away from him. Sure enough, pitch shot lands around the pin, but does not stop until it cozies up to the left fringe. Birdie effort breaks hard right and in front of the cup, leaving a tap-in par, his third straight par to begin the round. (Overall: 6 under) 2 (par 5, 575 yards): Woods, who hit just 7/14 fairways yesterday, misses fractionally to the right off the tee. Although he calls for the ball to move just one yard to the left, it bounds into the bunker, ruling out going for the green in two. He takes a mighty lash from 261 yards just to get the ball over the front lip, and leaves himself a 148-yard third shot. A conservative approach to well right of the left pin sets up a routine two-putt par. (Overall: 6 under) 1 (par 4, 445 yards): Woods shows up in a lavender mock T and gray slacks. He has had his issues with the opening hole at Augusta National, but splits the fairway with his drive but leaves his approach shot well short. (A common play amongst his fellow competitors on this hole today.) Putting uphill to the back pin location, he guns his first effort three feet past the pin, but makes the come-backer for a par. (Overall: 6 under) Pre-round notes TIGER’S PUTTING: Through the first two rounds, Tiger has been great from long range … and horrible from short range. From outside 20 feet, Tiger ranks first in the field, making 5 of 15 attempts for a rate of 33.33%. No other player in the field has made more than three putts from that distance. From inside 5 feet, however, Tiger has missed three of his 29 putts, leaving his conversion rate at 89.66%. Among the 65 players who made that cut, the only player with a worse percentage is amateur Alvaro Ortiz at 89.29%. From 5-10 feet, though, Ortiz leads the field, making all eight of his attempts. Woods has missed four of his eight attempts (50%). Just 12 players have lower percentage rates than Tiger from that distance. FAMILIAR PAIRING: Tiger is paired with Englishman Ian Poulter for the third round at the Masters for the second consecutive year. Both were well off the pace when they played together a year ago, with Tiger shooting an even-par 72 to end the round tied for 40th, while Poulter shot a 74 to drop into a tie for 50th at that point. Saturday will be the sixth round that Woods and Poulter have been in the same group at a PGA TOUR event. The first time was at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2010 when they were in the same threesome for the first two rounds. The last time was at THE NORTHERN TRUST during last season’s FedExCup Playoffs. Four times, Woods has shot the better score, and the other time they recorded the same score. RECENT SATURDAYS AT AUGUSTA: When Tiger won his last green jacket in 2005, he shot a 7-under 65 that moved him from six shots behind to three strokes ahead. That 65 tied for his lowest round in his Masters career – in fact, both of his 65s at Augusta National have happened in the third round. In his 10 starts since 2005, Tiger has shot in the 60s just twice in the third round, a 68 in 2008 and another 68 in 2015.

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