Tiger goes back to Titleist for PGA

TIGER WOODS has shafted his Nike driver and reverted to his tried and trusted Titleist for this weekend’s US PGA Championship.

The world’s number one has gone back to basics in a bid to win his first major this season. It’s his last chance to join golfer Walter Hagen as the only man to win a major in five straight seasons.

However, Woods’ decision to opt for a six-year-old Titleist model which is no longer even produced is acutely embarrassing for Nike. Titleist is the number one driver on the pro tour.

The US sports giant has a $100m contract with Woods to wear its clothes and use its equipment and is relying on him to give Nike a foothold in the golfing market. “We don’t foresee it having an impact on our business,” said Nike’s Dean Stoyer. He said Nike is developing new drivers for Woods and that, for now, “he’s going back to technology and a driver that is outdated. It’s not like he’s moving to a competitive driver that’s currently at retail”.

Nevertheless, the outdated Titleist driver helped Tiger Woods to average 309.4 yards off the tee in the recent Buick Open in Michigan, compared with his season-long 293.4 yards with the Nike Forged Titanium driver. He was also significantly more accurate, hitting 13 of 14 fairways in the final round.

Outlets like the Elm Park golf shop in Donnybrook, Co Dublin, have reported an increased interest in the Titleist driver, the 975D. It sells second-hand for around €100, while the Nike Forged Titanium driver costs around €500. “The Nike driver has a very big head on it, which Tiger wouldn’t need. The Titleist is more penetrating, slightly heavier and it’d be a better club for a player of his calibre,” said Elm Park assistant professional Donal Gleeson.

The shop has sold several of the second-hand and newer Titelist drivers, while sales of the Nike drivers have been slow.

“As far as golf clubs are concerned, Nike are a pretty new company, whereas Titleist has been the best for the last 50 years,” Mr Gleeson said.

Woods himself has expressed concern about other golfers using hot drivers to gain an unfair advantage. The Professional Golfers Association in the US has decided to randomly test clubs used by players to see if they are legal.

“The PGA tour has taken a step in the right direction and I’m happy about that,” Woods said recently. “It’s just a matter of making sure that the game is preserved, it’s policed.”