US Open: Tech insight

Callaway staffers gear up for Congressional

Geared up: Callaway has been equipping its players, such as Phil Mickelson, for Congressional

It’s the major renowned as the toughest of them all, and to that end Callaway’s staff players have made some significant equipment adjustments to prepare for the challenge of Congressional’s Blue Course.

Despite leading the European Tour in driving distance, Alvaro Quiros was with Callaway tour reps at Walton Heath last week working intensively on his driver set up. The Spaniard has added loft to his 9.5° RAZR Hawk driver and has also been testing a second driver that allows him to manoeuvre the ball both ways a little easier.

Desperate to secure his maiden US Open, Phil Mickelson has been working with Callaway’s R&D chief Alan Hocknell on an 18-degree X Tour Authentic 2-iron utility as a secondary tee-shot option. It’s been bent stronger and in testing Mickelson was carrying it 255 yards – the ideal alternative to a driver when approaching Congressional’s notoriously tight fairways.

Recent Wales Open Champion Alex Noren warmed up last week playing a practice round off the back tees at Bro Hof in Sweden, which at a jaw-dropping 8,150 yards, should make Congressional feel like pitch and putt. Noren logged every club hit and said afterwards that his Diablo Edge Tour hybrid was almost worn out.

Trevor Immelman, has consulted Callaway’s David Leadbetter and been spending time with our wedge guru Roger Cleveland to ensure his scoring clubs are perfectly set up for Congressional. A slight adjustment to the sole of his lob wedge has been the only change deemed necessary.

PGA Tour fixture Alex Cejka had a new set of RAZR X Muscle Back irons made up in preparation for the US Open, along with a zero bounce JAWS lob wedge and two X-Forged wedges.

Also in the field using Callaway equipment this week are Ernie Els, JJ Henry, Fredrik Jacobson, Michael Campbell, Marcel Siem, Bubba Dickerson, Sam Saunders and Ty Tyron.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor