Ko, Larsen set up final round duel in Toronto

Dustin Johnson’s return to the RBC Heritage for the first time 2009 came with a new putter in the bag. The 17-time PGA TOUR winner was spotted using Spider Tour in a new platinum color that’s quietly been released over the last few months on TOUR.  Johnson has tinkered with the sight line on his Spider Tour since the beginning of the season when he won the Sentry Tournament of Champions with a “T-line” on the crown.  He went away from the alignment at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play before going back to it during the Masters. The new putter Johnson used at Harbour Town did not have a sightline on the crown.  “Different color. Same putter, though,” Johnson said after an opening-round 69.  TaylorMade’s Spider Tour Red was one of the hottest equipment trends on TOUR during the 2016-17 season, but based on the new platinum finish, the equipment manufacturer believes it has room for other colors in the lineup.  A TaylorMade representative confirmed the platinum Spider would be rolled out in larger quantities on TOUR in the coming weeks for additional feedback. No word if that means it will be coming to retail anytime soon.  Along with adding a new putter to the bag, Johnson returned to the TaylorMade M4 driver he used at the start of the season. Just last week at the Masters, Johnson switched from a 460cc TaylorMade M3 to the smaller 440cc model to decrease spin. 

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Callaway has officially launched its new JAWS MD5 (Mack Daddy 5) wedges to replace the previous Mack Daddy 4 wedges that continue to be used by top players on the PGA TOUR. With its updated line of JAWS MD5 wedges, which are named after wedges in the company’s history, Callaway has made updates to enhance the look, feel and performance compared to its predecessors. When it comes to wedges, spin is king. To increase spin compared to the Mack Daddy 4 wedges, Callaway’s Chief Wedge Designer Roger Cleveland and the company’s R&D team developed wedge grooves on the MD5 JAWS wedges that have a tighter edge radius and more severe side-wall angles. These grooves are milled into the faces of the wedges, which are made from 8620 carbon steel. The new groove designs combine with the familiar groove-in-groove technology from Callaway that places three raised “micro-ridges� between the visible grooves; this creates more contact points with the golf ball, thus increasing friction and creating more spin. Callaway says that the JAWS wedge grooves are most effective from 80 yards and in. Due to the emphasis on high spin, Callaway brought back the JAWS name from a 2009 wedge release, called X Series JAWS wedges, which were also designed by Roger Cleveland and promoted greater spin rates. With its JAWS MD5 wedges, Callaway extended its lineup to include more grind options. Matching its MD5 name, the new wedge lineup will now have five different grind options: C (54-60 degrees), Low W (58 and 60 degrees), X (58 and 60 degrees), S (46-60 degrees) and High W (50-60 degrees). The all-new Low-bounce W grind was developed as result of TOUR player feedback; it has a wide sole but low bounce, with increased sole taper and heel relief. This grind is designed to allow golfers to play more shots around the green but still get the benefit of a wide sole on full shots. Also, the classic C-grind has been updated to increase versatility by reducing the bounce angle, widening the middle of the sole and increasing heel relief. From a looks perspective, the lower-lofted wedges (46-52 degrees) will have a more compact profile than the higher-lofted wedges (54-60 degrees). Callaway says this progressive shaping blends better with the short irons from a player’s set. Additionally, the new wedges will continue to have the four medallion ports on their back cavities, a design that has become a recognizable aesthetic of Callaway wedges. The JAWS MD5 wedges will be available for custom stampings in Callaway Customs with 10 different color zones and medallions, including new emoji symbols. They will come stock with either True Temper Tour Issue 115 steel shafts or Project X Catalyst 80 graphite shafts, and they come with a Lamkin UTx black-and-blue grip. Available in both Platinum Chrome and Tour Grey finishes, the JAWS MD5 wedges will sell for $159.99 each. Pre-sale starts on September 13, and the wedges hit retail on September 20.

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Some tournaments have more experience in adapting to the challenges of the time. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is one of them, if not the most seasoned. Celebrating its 75th anniversary at Pebble Beach this week, the annual contest been a cornerstone on the PGA TOUR since 1947. The evolution has included the usage of six courses with exactly three hosting traditionally, a cancellation in 1996 and a conclusion delayed six months in 1998 due to weather, itself almost always a disruptor. Because of the pandemic, this year's edition will utilize only two tracks for the first time and amateurs will not be participating. Continue reading below the projected contenders for more on the revised format, how the host course has adapted and more. RELATED: The First Look | Inside the Field POWER RANKINGS: AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM Defending champion Nick Taylor, two-time champ Brandt Snedeker, Si Woo Kim and Rickie Fowler will be among the notables reviewed in Tuesday's Fantasy Insider. Taking a page out of the playbook of The American Express, which also thinned to two courses three weeks ago, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am has shelved the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula County Club until next year. Only Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill will be in play for the 156-man field. Half will play Pebble Beach in the first round as the other half tackles Spyglass Hill. They'll alternate courses for the second round. With the shift to two stages, the cut will fall familiarly after 36 holes are complete. The low 65 and ties will advance and play only Pebble Beach on the weekend. Without amateurs, the setup crew can allow Pebble Beach to flash its teeth. While the iconic par 72 holds its own when hosting U.S. Opens, it won't play as difficult as a major this week, but it will be capable of stretching 235 yards longer than usual for the non-major hosted by the PGA TOUR. Of the 11 holes that are at least seven yards longer, four could be paced off at least an additional 30 yards. The greatest increases are the par-4 10th and 13th holes with respective extensions of 49 and 46 yards. Overall, Pebble Beach tips at 7,051 yards. By comparison, it was set up at 7,075 yards and as a par 71 for the 2019 U.S. Open. Also a stock par 72, at 7,041 yards, Spyglass Hill officially is just six yards longer. That difference exists only on the par-3 fifth hole. For the three rounds it was played last year, it averaged 72.877 while Pebble Beach checked in under par in each of the first three rounds before swinging back with a final-round scoring average of 74.426, although amid the strongest breezes of the tournament. Therein lies the invisible villain. When the wind blows, Pebble Beach almost always is more challenging than Spyglass Hill. This week's forecast is vintage, depending your preference for the year, that is. Daytime temperatures won't escape the 50s, rain cannot be ruled out on any day and the wind gradually will freshen for the final round. It's all but a prerequisite to split fairways off the tee at Pebble Beach. The 3,500-square foot Poa annua surfaces are prepped to run upwards of 12 feet on the Stimpmeter - although Mother Nature will see about that - so course management with control on approach will ease the pressure and soften the juxtaposition of the grind against the picturesque backdrop. Length off the tee is irrelevant in favor of placement. Pebble Beach has ranked shortest in distance of all drives in each of the last four seasons. Last year's clip was just 272.9 yards on average. It's also been the stingiest inside 10 feet two years running. The par 3s, par 4s and par 5s all slotted inside the top-10 hardest of 41 courses used last season, but even in the most recent seasons that weren't interrupted by COVID-19, the par 5s have been among the toughest. ShotLink isn't used at Spyglass Hill, but at a beefy 4.93, its par 5s were the most difficult on any course last season. It can't be ruled out as a new normal since new tees on the par-5 seventh and 11th holes were introduced last year, but with a scoring average of 5.149, the par-5 first checked in as the second-hardest par 5 (of 132) all season. The most challenging par 5 was the finisher at Pebble Beach; it averaged 5.152. The always-demanding par-5 14th hole at Pebble was fifth-toughest at 5.018. ROB BOLTON'S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.COM's Fantasy Insider Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous angles. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Fantasy Insider SUNDAY: Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Medical Extensions, Rookie Watch * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM's Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.

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