It's always exciting to see a small equipment company that focuses on quality get a win on tour.
This week, it was Scratch Golf, a small Oregon-based wedge maker that is quickly becoming known as one of the handful of top-notch wedge manufacturers in the world. With a 61-degree wedge in the bag of Rick Price, winner of the Nationwide Tour Players Championship, Scratch has earned its second win of the season - the first when Kris Blanks used three Scratch wedges in his win at the Bank of America Open.
"We are thrilled with the success players have had using our clubs on the Nationwide Tour this year," said Ari Techner, CEO of Scratch Golf. "We are honored that these guys have chosen to put our wedges in their bags and we couldn't be more excited about their recent victories."
Scratch Golf prides itself on producing custom grinds that fit an individual player's swing. Consumers can buy five grind options that fit three main swing types. Each wedge is made from 1018 carbon steel for great feel around the greens.
Although there haven't been any Scratch Golf wedge wins on the PGA Tour yet, the company has had five top-10 finishes in 2008 and has equipment in play at the Champions, LPGA and European Tours as well as PGA and Nationwide.
PHIL WATCH: What will Phil Mickelson put in the bag for the British Open at Royal Birkdale next week? It's always interesting to see what Mickelson does - from using two drivers to no drivers and with as many as five wedges, the world No. 2 rarely disappoints equipment fanatics who like to debate his choices.
Mickelson, who played in last week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond as a tune-up for the British, shared his thoughts on what will be in his bag.
"(The equipment) actually will vary day-to-day based on the weather," he said. "When it's windier, I'll have a couple of longer irons that will keep the ball down and if it's soft, like it's possible with some rain, I'll keep the hybrids in and some of the longer stuff to hit it higher."
Mickelson said he could not think of a reason why he would carry multiple drivers. At Birkdale, length is not a requirement.
"There are very few drivers at Birkdale," Mickelson said. "There are a couple but there aren't many."
ODDS AND ENDS: Zach Johnson is another new convert to Titleist's 909 driver. He had one in the bag for the John Deere Classic. ... Karrie Webb recently switched from a YES! putter to a SeeMore model. "I just picked this one up as I finished practicing Wednesday," she said of the SeeMore mallet. "I never expected to change in the tournament. But my first round was so awful, and I felt so awkward over the ball, I just thought I would give it a shot." ... Just in time for his return visit to Royal Birkdale, where he made headlines 10 years ago finishing T4 as an amateur, Justin Rose has re-signed with TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company. There shouldn't be any changes to Rose's bag - he'll keep playing TaylorMade clubs and golf ball and will wear adidas apparel. ... European Tour Order of Merit leader Miguel Angel Jimenez earned a third-place finish at the Scottish Open while using Srixon's Z-URS golf ball.
