BOMB: Well buddy, sorry we had to part ways last Wednesday. You to come back and bury yourself in your MOI story, and me to Augusta National for the rest of the week to cover the Masters. And I don’t know about you, but I loved the fact that Zach Johnson, he of the whopping 265.0-yard driving distance average, slipped on the green coat, proving once again that the peashooter still has more than a fighting chance in this era of long ball.

In fact, I just don’t get why everyone thinks Augusta National is strictly for long-hitters. In the last 20 Masters, only nine winners have been in the top 10 in driving distance while eight were ranked 30th or lower—including four of the last 10. Faldo averaged 240 in 1989. Jose Maria Olazabal 239.8 in 1999. Mike Weir 271.3 in 2003. And Johnson, with his 265, ranked 55th in the field, the lowest rank by a champion since Bernhard Langer in 1993. Bottom line is that while people will always debate whether or not technology is hurting the game, fact is that it’s not just a game of power. Short hitters with skills will always have a chance. 

GOUGE: Yeah, ours is the life of luxury certainly. I know the traditionalists (neo-cons, of a sort) will quickly call you on the fact that Augusta National has added 460 yards since 2002 so it’s not the same golf course anymore. Truth is, it may be too long in some instances, given what you were telling me about Scott Verplank hitting wood into No. 1. But doesn’t that really prove the point? The guy who manages his game the best wins. The guy who bombs it shoots 83 on moving day. The guy who carries two drivers can’t get the ball in the hole. The guy who clanks his wedge approach on the 17th hole in the bunker and complains about the wind goes home in second place. And let’s not forget despite the giant full-page advertisement in USA Today, that Zach Johnson is using not this year’s but last year’s driver, the Titleist 905R now offered at a reduced price, and a putter that last won a major during the Clinton administration. Does that mean technology is over? Hardly. What it means is that if you find clubs that work—through a proper fitting, by all means—you might be good until the face caves in. At least that seems to be Zach’s interpretation. So, my friend, you are right once again. Distance, in the majors when it really matters, is not ruining the game. Distance, in the setting by which all other settings are judged, is over.

BOMB: Well, since you mentioned two of Zach's clubs, might as well give the readers all 14 plus the ball so here goes. Also, folks, you can find this info along with my column on what equipment was like five years ago at the Masters compared to this year, online tomorrow at golfworld.com or in this week's issue of Golf World. Sorry for the shameless plug. I feel so dirty now.

Zach's bats and ball
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x. Driver: Titleist 905R, 8.5 degrees. 3-wood: Sonartec SS-3.5, 15 degrees. Hybrid club: Titleist 503H (19 degrees). Irons (3-4): Titleist 735.CM; (5-9): Titleist 695.CB. Wedges: Titleist Vokey (48 degrees); Titleist Vokey prototype (54 degrees); Titleist Vokey Spin Milled (60 degrees). Putter: SeeMore FGP.