During a practice round at Oakmont, site of this year's U.S. Open, Tiger Woods was seen - and heard - giving a Nike Sumo2 driver a try.
Nike's square-shaped driver is noted for being exceptionally accurate - a plus for amateur golfers but not necessarily for pros who want to work the ball. It's also known for the loud noise it makes on impact.
Woods used the club in practice during two days at Oakmont. He's also experimented with the driver in practice, but hasn't yet given up on his Nike SasQuatch 460. In the past, the world No. 1 has indicated he gets increased distance but doesn't like the launch angle he gets with the Sumo2.
"The question is whether I use it at the Wachovia," Woods told the Associated Press, indicating he might put the driver in play at next week's PGA Tour stop. "I already know what my other driver does. It did all right at Augusta."
GORE LOOKS TO COBRA: Jason Gore is rumored to be signing a deal with Cobra Golf soon. At the Byron Nelson, he was working with Cobra reps on the range. Gore was playing Nike clubs earlier in the year, but allegedly wanted to use the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball - a no go as far as Nike officials (and Gore's contract) were concerned. Gore's move to an Acushnet company should allow him to use the Pro V1 with no problem.
In the time since Gore split with Nike, in early March, he's been using a Cobra driver and irons, as well as a TaylorMade fairway wood and rescue club. His tie for 44th at the Byron Nelson marked his third consecutive cut after he struggled early in the season.
TRION Z ON WINNER'S WRIST: Byron Nelson winner Scott Verplank must think there's something to the Trion Z bracelet. He sported an orange-and-black version during the week at Las Colinas.
More than 200 pros on the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours wear the ionic/magnetic bracelets, which are endorsed by teachers Butch Harmon and David Leadbetter. Material that produces negative ions is woven into the fabric of the bracelets, which is supposed to reduce the effects of positive ions that build up during physical activity and exposure to wind and sun. Ultimately, this reduces physical stress for the athlete and improves focus.
Other golfers who have won with a Trion Z this year: Boo Weekley at the Verizon, Brittany Lincicome at the Ginn Open, Stacy Prammanasudh at the Fields Open in Hawaii, and Charles Howell III at the Nissan Open.
MODEL GOLF SWING: In all the talk of Byron Nelson during the first tournament after his death, one thing that didn't get mentioned much was his contribution to equipment testing.
The USGA used Nelson's swing as a model for its swing robot throughout the 1990s until it switched its method of testing golf ball compliance in 2000.
"The great swing of Byron's was used as a model for the mechanical device we created, which is affectionally known throughout the world now as 'Iron Byron,'" explained Winfield Padgett, who served on the USGA's Executive Committee in the mid-90s. "Byron was very cooperative and instrumental and guided us through that process, making sure that technology was where it needed to be and was giving us the very best we could use and still in use today despite all the advances that have been going on in the sport."
ODDS AND ENDS: Mike Weir put a full set of TaylorMade's r7 TP irons in play for the first time this week. ... J.L. Lewis returned after recovering from knee surgery and had a full bag of TaylorMade clubs plus the TP Black golf ball. ... LPGA Tour conditional player Lisa Fernandes started using new Callaway equipment and finished at even par after shooting a 69 in the first round of the Corona Morelia Championship in Mexico.
