Notebook: Mickelson puts new driver in play at Humana

By Jennifer Gardner
Tour Van

Phil Mickelson was somewhat erratic with his driver in his 2012 season debut at the Humana Challenge.

Mickelson said he had been testing the new Callaway Razr Fit driver but decided to start the tournament with his regular gamer, a Callaway FT Tour. After a poor driving round the first day, he added the new club.

"I felt like I didn't want to start the year with any changes in my bag," Mickelson said. "And the first day, of course, I hit two out of bounds and I kind of bagged that idea."

Mickelson said he hit the new Razr Fit driver "much straighter" - the first two rounds he showed 57 percent acccuracy off the tee, but that improved to 69 percent both weekend days.

DON'T GIVE UP THE GHOST: Camilo Villegas put a new TaylorMade belly-length Ghost Manta putter in play at the Humana Challenge to finish T19 in his first PGA Tour start of the 2012 season.

Villegas, who started the tournament with a 9-under 63, added the putter, which is extra heavy at 694 grams and has 3 degrees of loft, to his bag after testing it during the off-season.

"I have a new putter that I've been putting nicely with, I kept the ball in play, so hopefully we can keep doing that the next two days, and then put ourselves in position for Sunday," he said after a second-round 68.

For the week, he averaged 27.3 putts per round (T17) and 1.667 putts per round (T28).

Villegas also tested TaylorMade's new RocketBallz Tour fairway woods. The TaylorMade tour van staff built two new ones for him - a 14.5-degree RBZ Tour 3-wood and a 17.5-degree 4-wood.

WILSON WINS WITH NEW PING CLUBS: Mark Wilson, who became the first professional to use the Ping i20 driver in competition at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions earlier this month, also became the first pro to win with the new club.

"The driver, that was an easy change. Feels very similar," Wilson said at last week's Sony Open. "Just has a little more matte look so it so get some of the glare out which is a nice thing. Doesn't feel like I changed equipment to be honest with you. They looked so similar and perform just slightly better, so it was a no brainer really."

Wilson also used Ping's i15 hybrids, new i20 irons, Tour wedges and a Karsten Anser putter.

TOMS GOES CLASSIC: After struggling in Hawaii, Cleveland staffer David Toms had a strong T6 finish at the Humana Challenge, with rounds of 63-65-72-68.

"I was able to work on my game early in the week and felt a little bit better about my tempo," said Toms, who used a new Cleveland Classic 10.5-degree driver. "I think it had gotten off over there. And that's a big part of my consistency is tempo of the golf swing and it has to be good and it's gotten lot better here this week."

Toms' Classic driver is a special tour version that features a more shallow face compared to the standard club. He also played Cleveland CG7 Tour irons, 588 Forged wedges and a Never Compromise Limited Dinero Tycoon putter.

IT'S HIS LOOK: Ernie Els contended for the title at the European Tour's Volvo Golf Champions in his native South Africa, earning his way to a playoff before losing by a shot to fellow countryman Branden Grace.

Els had a new pair of Callaway Del Mar shoes - a "street style" that is designed for comfort and looks like a casual tennis shoe.

"I played with it in December with my mates and (they were) very comfortable," Els said. "I think this might be my look, you never know, whether you like it or not."

Els also had the following Callaway equipment in his bag: 9.5-degree Razr Fit driver, X Tour and X fairway woods, Razr Muscle Back irons, X-Series Jaws wedges, Hex Black Tour golf ball and an Odyssey White Hot XG #1 belly putter.

WINNING COUNTS: At the Humana Challenge, 99 of the 144 players in the field used a Titleist golf ball. Titleist was also first in iron sets (41), wedges (123) and putters (56).

TaylorMade was first in the driver count with 56 of the company's clubs in play. TaylorMade was also first in fairway woods (81) and hybrids (37).

Aldila won the wood and hybrid shaft manufacturer counts, with 27 more wood shafts and 10 more hybrid shafts in play than the second-placed manufacturer.

ODDS AND ENDS: TaylorMade reported such a run on its new R11S driver that they ran out of heads at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Van staffers reported making more than 200 drivers and RocketBallz fairway woods in the early part of the week. ... Nike tour van staffers built a new 9.5-degree VR_S driver for Kevin Chappell, as well as a forged 3-iron. Chappell said it went about 5 yards further than his previous gamer and his dispersion was a lot tighter than his previous gamer on mis-hits. ... After an eight-year hiatus, Colin Montgomerie signed a new contract with Callaway. He had been playing Yonex equipment.