Golf: The thin end of the wedge

Phil Mickelson will have two drivers in his bag. Picture / Reuters

Michael Campbell has backed Phil Mickelson's bold Augusta decision to go with two drivers and no sand wedge.

The American's move had plenty of his rivals talking on the first official day of practice for Friday morning's (NZT) start of the US Masters.

Mickelson won a third Bell South Classic on Monday in Atlanta using the same combination of clubs he will use at the Augusta National.

The American carries a standard 45in driver and a second that is an inch shorter, and also weighted differently. It allows him to move the ball left or right, depending on the shape of the fairway.

"I use the longer club to draw the ball and the other to fade, so one takes the left side out of play whilst the other takes the right side of play," Mickelson said.

It means that Mickelson will head into the Masters without a sand wedge and with just two wedges - a gap wedge and a lob wedge.

Augusta folk hero Gene Sarazen, who is credited with inventing the sand wedge, might sit up in his grave in shock, but many of Mickelson's rivals this week were not surprised.

Campbell said: "I can understand where Phil is coming from because as they lengthen courses like Augusta, the emphasis is more on driving accuracy.

"It's a great idea because I played with him for two rounds in the Players' Championship, in the week before he won last week, and played with no 5-iron in the bag."

- NZPA