Tiger Woods confirms 3 gear changes for the Open Championship
tiger woods pictured holding golf club at 2024 open championship

Woods analyzes his Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter during a practice round at Royal Troon.

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It wouldn’t be an Open Championship week without a few equipment tweaks for Tiger Woods. For years, the 15-time major winner has altered his setup to fit the links-style course conditions players face yearly when trekking across the pond.

The changes have worked wonders in the past, so Woods has continued the ritual for a single week on the calendar.

During his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday, Woods confirmed he’d likely make three changes at Royal Troon. None of them are surprising, but they’re still worth pointing out as many of his colleagues will likely be making similar calls on Thursday.

Wedge changes
tiger woods taylormade mg4 proto wedge
Woods could opt for less bounce this week to handle the firmer conditions around the green. Getty Images
What Tiger said: “I’m monkeying around with the bounce on my [60-degree]. I got a couple 60s I’m kind of experimenting right now, one with a little bit less bounce for the chipping areas. Also, I need — I like the way my older 60 is going through the bunkers and then getting out. It’s not digging. So I’ve got to make a call on that.”

Analyzing the change: Pros are used to playing on firm course conditions, but the Open Championship tends to take things to another level — assuming the weather cooperates. Woods has historically played wedges with a dual sole that allows the wedge to have mid-bounce when the leading edge is square to the target. However, the additional relief, particularly in the heel, allows the bounce to go down significantly so the leading edge can get underneath the ball from tight lies.

Going to less bounce means Woods is looking for something that allows the leading edge to sit flush against the turf, regardless of where it’s positioned. For the tight turf at Royal Troon, the decision makes sense.

If there’s one thing to consider when removing bounce, it’s how the wedge will play out of the sand. Bounce is your friend in the bunker and allows the head to get in and out of the sand efficiently with minimal digging. This is a tradeoff all golfers must consider, not just Woods.

Do you sacrifice versatility in the sand for less overall bounce? Of all the changes he’s contemplating, this could be the most important.

Stinger season
tiger woods p770
Woods is squeezing extra rollout out of his P770 3-iron by strengthening the loft. Jonathan Wall/GOLF
What Tiger said: “I just bent my 3-iron yesterday one degree stronger just to be able to hit it off the deck and get that thing down and flighted and running.”

Analyzing the change: Woods has won plenty of Open Championships with a long iron in his hands. At this point, there’s no reason to change. The P770 3-iron he generally carries has 19.5 degrees of loft. Bumping it down one degree should allow for additional rollout and keep the driver in the bag. It’s stinger season, baby.