While the Masters is a tradition unlike any other, Augusta National might also be a test unlike any other. But Tommy Fleetwood thinks his bag is uniquely suited to take on that test.
Not only will Fleetwood and other golfers be challenged by Augusta’s wildly fast and massively sloping and undulating greens, but getting to those greens is harder than the average PGA Tour golf course.
According to golf-stat analyst Ron Klos, Augusta National sees golfers hit 72 percent of their approach shots from outside 150 yards versus just 64 percent on the PGA Tour. The biggest differences are that players hit 31.6 percent fewer shots from 100 to 150 yards than on the PGA Tour and a staggering 71 percent more shots from 225 to 250.
That increase in shots hit from 225 to 250 yards essentially means one more of those per round. That’s often a yardage where pros are looking to simply minimize how many strokes they lose as opposed to attacking pins.
Those shots come on Augusta National’s four par-5s, which are all reachable in two for the game’s top players and the long par-3 4th, which is listed at 240 yards. A relatively shorter driver of the golf ball, like Fleetwood, might also have a 220+ yard approach on the 520-yard par-4 11th, especially if it’s into the wind.
But Fleetwood thinks his bag is set up uniquely to handle those extra-long range approaches, thanks to being one of just a few PGA Tour pros to use a 9-wood.
“It’s a great 9-wood golf course,” Fleetwoos said Tuesday. “I think it’s always been — I can’t remember when I first put like a 9-wood in or a high lofted club, but it’s a perfect like 9-wood golf course.
“No, the bag setup stayed the same, really. So the way that I do set it up actually works very well for Augusta, so that’s great.”
Fleetwood first tried a 9-wood in early 2023, and it’s been a staple in his bag ever since.
The club covers roughly a 230-yard carry for him and that comes in handy when trying to bring the ball in high and soft on Augusta’s greens.
“The biggest thing is the 9-wood for me,” Fleetwood said. “If I can put myself in position on the par-5s or the 4th long par-3, like it — for me, I can’t really hit that high 4-iron, so 9-wood helps me a lot.”
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