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CALIFORNIA - Masters champion Phil Mickelson, known for his meticulous approach to the majors, plans to use two drivers in his bag once again Augusta National.
However, the American left-hander has a slightly different strategy in mind for his April 5-8 title defence.
His two-driver policy last year gave him the option to hit either controlled cuts or booming draws off the tee whereas his 2007 approach will mix versatility with raw power.
For shot variety, Mickelson has been successfully using a Callaway FT-5 driver for the last two weeks while he expects to gain extra length with the new square-headed FT-i.
"The FT-5 is very versatile," the 36-year-old American said today as he discussed his Masters defence.
"I'm able to hit the ball low, I'm able to hit cuts and I'm able to hit draws with it very easily. It is very responsive.
"The FT-i is a square driver, designed to go straight. Although it's very hard for me to work balls with it, it goes so straight that I'm able to make a longer shaft, swing a little harder and pick up an extra 15 to 20 yards off the tee.
"There are some holes at Augusta where I'd like to use that, like 17 and number two, where I might be able to carry that bunker on the right if I hit it hard enough."
Mickelson, who won his third major title by two shots at Augusta National last April, said he would again compete at the Masters without a sand wedge.
"My sand wedge always comes out at Augusta because I've never needed a sand wedge shot there," added the Californian, who won his first green jacket at the 2004 Masters.
"I use my L-wedge (lob wedge) out of bunkers and I am considering putting in a 64-degree wedge."
Mickelson, who sounded a warning to his rivals with a commanding five-shot victory at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Sunday, says he has never driven the ball better.
Driving, he believes, is a vital component at the Masters with the ultra-long Augusta National having been stretched to 6808m for last year's tournament.
"The distance has really been the biggest factor and I swing as hard as I ever swung for any tournament the week of the Masters because distance is so important there," he said.
"Driving at Augusta is critical because, with the first cut (of rough) now, the ball will not roll as much down some of the holes. If you miss the fairway, you now have a much tougher downhill lie.
"The short game is always going to be important at Augusta because of all the room around the greens to chip but driving is probably underrated there."
Mickelson, who hit 82 per cent of his fairways at Pebble Beach last week en route to his 30th PGA Tour title, accepted that playing well at the Masters was inextricably linked with experience.
"I don't know if you ever feel totally comfortable there, it did take me a lot longer than I thought it would," he said.
"When you go to all the different pins and see the breaks and the subtleties in those greens, places to miss it where you just can't go or some places where you need to go.
"Having won it twice has been exciting, to say the least. And because I'm driving the ball so much better now, I have a lot more confidence than in years past."
- REUTERS
