Hey Team Titleist,
The PGA TOUR is in New Orleans this week for the Zurich Classic, where players pair up in teams for two rounds of best ball (Thursday and Saturday) and two rounds of alternate shot (Friday and Sunday).
We're keeping an eye on all of the teams, especially the squad of Titleist Brand Ambassadors Justin Thomas and Bud Cauley. Justin and Bud shared their game plan for this week after finishing T5 in the 2017 tournament.
"We tried to look at it in depth last year in terms of stats," Justin said. "It makes sense that one person tees off one or the other, but with the par-3s - two of them being odd, two even, and then Par-5s, two odd, two even - didn't make a big difference. When both of us are on with our iron play, I would put us up against anybody in the world.
We'll have our caddies, but it's always nice to have another set of ears or another set of eyes to look at something or give feedback if one of us needs it."
Let's take a closer look inside their Titleist setups from tee to green.
Justin Thomas (Pro V1x)
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Scroll to take a look inside Justin's current setup.1/13
One the greatest strengths in Justin's game is his driving and he produces his amazing combination of distance and accuracy with this 917D2.2/13
Justin adds .75° off loft with this D4 SureFit setting.3/13
For a 3-metal, Justin relies on this 917F2 model, neutral A1 SureFit setting.4/13
Justin also carries a 5-metal, this 915Fd model. His B3 SureFit setting adds 1.5° of loft to the standard 18° setting and also gives the club a little draw bias.5/13
Filling the gap after his 5-metal, Justin games a 718 AP2 4-iron, a club he used frequently off the tee at the Honda.6/13
Justin carries 718 MB (5-9) irons for maximum feel and shot-shaping ability.7/13
Transitioning between his 718 MB's to Vokey wedges, Justin starts with an SM6 46.08 pitching wedge. In working with Titleist Tour Rep. Aaron Dill, Justin found that bending his PW 1.5° filled his gaps out better and he benefited from the additional bounce. 8/13
The club Justin used to nearly hole his approach on the 72nd hole at the Honda - a Vokey SM5 52.12 gap wedge, bent slightly to add .5° of loft.9/13
Justin sand wedge of choice, a Vokey SM5 56.14 F-grind. Aaron Dill has modified this a bit, adding 1° of loft.10/13
For pitches and chips around the green, Justin relies heavily on this Vokey SM6 60.12 K-grind. Aaron Dill has modified this lob wedge, adding .5° of loft and reducing the effective bonce to 8°.11/13
Justin is also currently experimenting with a new Vokey Design SM7 60.12 D-grind.12/13
Justin's putting really took off last year, when he worked with Scotty Cameron to develop this Futura X5 model.13/13
Bud Cauley (Pro V1)
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We're taking a closer look inside Bud Cauley's setup, which includes Pro V1. To begin, Bud plays the 917D2 driver with 8.5 degree loft. 1/11
At a B1 setting, the driver is made to give him fade bias, allowing him to work it left to right. 2/11
Bud's 915F 3+ fairway metal is neutrally biased, allowing him to work the ball left or right.3/11
Bud prefers the look of the 13.5° head, but he plays it in the A4 SureFit setting, effectively giving him 15° of loft.4/11
Bud plays the 718 MB irons, from 4 iron to 9 iron. 5/11
Bud's wedge setup includes three F grinds and a custom 60. We'll begin with the 46.10 F grind pitching wedge. 6/11
His gap wedge is a 52.12 F grind. 7/11
Bud's sand wedge of choice is also an F grind at 56.14. 8/11
Finally, a custom 60 (siXty) degree made by Vokey Design Wedges Tour Rep, Aaron Dill. 9/11
Bud rolls a custom SSS Scotty Cameron putter. 10/11
It's finished with a circle T, for Tour players only! 11/11
The duo truly seems to be taking the team element to heart. I'm personally excited to hear their walk out song for this week is "Circle of Life" from the Lion King. I'm sure it'll be entertaining for all!
Good luck to JT, Bud and all of Team Titleist at the Zurich Classic!
Best,
Abby
Team Titleist Staff