Phil Mickelson brings back the “Phrankenwood” at The Open
Phil Mickelson is planning on channeling a strategy from his Open Championship past, leaving driver out of the bag at Royal Birkdale
Royal Birkdale, host of the 2017 Open Championship, is a unique type of links course. With narrow fairways and doglegs on nearly every hole, club selection will be of the utmost importance. Rory McIlroy, for instance, has said he’ll likely not hit driver until at least the 13th hole. Phil Mickelson is taking it a step further, preparing to play without a driver at all.
Mickelson, of course, is known as much for his artistry with different clubs as for his pure golfing skill. Much of the time, it’s built for his prodigious short game. Back in 2015, he worked with his team at Callaway Golf to create a unique wedge, the “Mack Daddy PM Grind”. It was a club developed, literally, for Phil’s flop shot, and nothing else.
This week, Phil will be channeling something a bit older, even. According to Will Gray of Golf Channel, Lefty will be employing a “hot” driving 3-wood, two 3-irons and his 64-degree wedge.
Equipment overhaul for Phil this week: current plan is no driver, but adding a "hot" 3-wood, a second "driving" 3-iron and 64 degree wedge.
— Will Gray (@WillGrayGolfbet) July 18, 2017
Will Mickelson bring back the “Phrankenwood” at Royal Birkdale?
If this sounds familiar to you, it should. At the 2014 Masters, Mickelson put the “Phrankenwood” – a custom-built, low-spin 3-wood – into play for the first time. It was a progression of the strategy he used the previous summer at the 2013 Open Championship. At Muirfield, Mickelson won his fifth major title by taking driver completely out of the bag, and relying on his 3-wood to keep the ball in play.
Knowing the way Muirfield plays, it was a perfect decision. Mickelson, even at 47, is still a
powerful driver, but to say he’s not the most accurate would be kind. He currently ranks 181st on the PGA TOUR in driving accuracy, hitting just a hair over 54 percent of fairways off the tee. At Royal Birkdale, the fairways are generally flat, but the rough can be punishing. With bunker placements that require precise control of distances, the extra power Phil’s driver generates will rarely be worth it.
There’s no specific detail right now as to what Phil’s “hot” 3-wood will be right now. It could be the same “Phrankenwood” from 2013, or it could be something completely new, likely with Callaway’s Epic branding all over it.
Either way, Phil’s drive for his sixth major championship is in full gear. Even without Bones on the bag this week, it seems like little else has changed in Lefty’s mindset. Keep an eye on this as play begins early Thursday.