Tiger Woods has switched to a Nike golf ball with a slightly harder cover. The ball spins less than his previous model and might explain why he's so happy with his driving lately since he needs to put in less effort to get better distance.
Woods has often talked about using the softest ball on tour. He says it gives him greater control around the greens. He was using the One Tour ball this weekend at the AT&T National at Aronimink golf course in Philadelphia, a ball with a star in between the two words. Woods switched to the new Nike ball in preparation for the British Open held in Scotland next week.
The British Open will be held at St. Andrews course, the oldest in the world and known for its windy greens. Woods said his swing was one of the major reasons he switched balls. “It was a little bit to do with the ball,” Woods said of his less than impressive 46th place at the National.
Woods was 21st in driving distance this year and led the AT&T National in driving distance with 328 yards. While playing with Dustin Johnson in the second round, Woods shot a drive 26 yards past Johnson and then 10 yards past him on the second hole. Woods got birdies on both these holes.
Woods drive is getting the attention he needs to pump up his self esteem. “Wow” was all Scott McCarron could whisper when Woods hit a driver on the fourth hole 322 yards down the middle, 37 yards beyond MacCarron.
While his driving is improving, his short game is still uneven, and Woods is still struggling with scoring. Before the leaders teed off Woods remained way back down the leaderboard with a 3-over 213, finishing ten shots behind.
He hit a good shot on the sixth hole where he maneuvered around trees and a bunker to land 60 yards away from the hole. While trying to get over a ridge and funnel to the hole, Woods tried a low play but messed up the shot as he appeared to second guess himself midway through. Not making the green, he three-putted to get a bogey and concluded, “That was just awful . . . I was trying to hit a low ball in there, trying to scoot it up that hill, and I was not committed to where I was going to land it. Lack of commitment, I ended up hitting the ball fat.”
Woods continued to miss what once would have been easy birdies for him. He came up short on the green a couple of times, admitting his distance control was not at its best. Woods said this was more his fault than the ball. His first birdie came after a 5-foot putt and he was determined to make it. In the first six holes Woods missed four putts inside 10 feet, so it was about time he landed one.
Of the six tournaments he’s played this year Woods believes, “I’m getting better,” and he can notice, “the feel, it's getting better. I feel more comfortable with what I’m working on. It’s so much more comfortable that it was the beginning of the year.”
Woods is remaining positive about what is working well. It’s clear he is not the same player he used to be, and maybe he never will be again. Still, Woods remains optimistic “The more tournaments I play this year, I’m getting better.” His driving accuracy has been a big problem, he was ranked 147th through five events compared to 2009 when he was 86th.
Woods has worked with Nike Golf equipment designer Rock Ishii in 2000 to help with the ball technology of the Nike One.
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