JUST DID IT -- RECENTLYSigning with Nike in the offseason and getting all new equipment, including a different ball, has been a fairly easy transition. I didn't want to start the year looking to find my swing. I felt like I got off to a slow start last year, so I spent the offseason working hard on my game. My win in Malaysia (at the CIMB Classic, by shooting a final-round 61) in late October helped my confidence. As did my practice sessions with Butch Harmon.
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ROLLING THE ROCKThe putting lesson I got from instructor Darrell Kestner of Deepdale Golf Club (in Manhasset, N.Y.) before the Barclays last summer paid off immediately. I won that week, putting the best I did all year -- by far. All we really did was improve my setup and make my stroke more consistent. That's important, especially when you're using a new putter.
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I LEFT MY HEART ...These personalized alignment rods are black and orange, like my favorite team, the San Francisco Giants. Will "The Thrill" Clark is my all-time favorite player.
Photo By: J.D. Cuban
SURF'S UPFor my ball marker, I use a "drummer-boy" quarter or this coin that I got while I was in Costa Rica surfing. Chad Reynolds, my caddie, got me into surfing about two years ago. He's been doing it all his life.
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FAMILY TIESMy uncle Mike is in his 35th year as the men's golf coach at Fresno State. It was awesome to play for him, and I still support the team. I stuck this Bulldogs logo on the bottom of my golf bag.
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__ FEELIN' BLUE__It took awhile to figure out how to mark my new Nike 20XIs. I had put brackets around the brand name, but it didn't look right with the swoosh. Blue is a must. It's my favorite color.
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PACE YOURSELFInstructor Darrell Kestner gave me this right-angled stick to help me with my putting path. (It had been too much in-to-out.) The stick also contains a friendly reminder from him to "Respect the Pace," which is to say my tempo should be unhurried and constant.
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DRIVERI play a Nike VR_S Covert (11.5 degrees), with a Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage X-shaft (44¾ inches, 70 grams, D-3 swingweight). It's set to neutral so I can work the ball in either direction. I think the red finish looks pretty cool.
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FAIRWAY WOODSI need help getting the ball in the air, and I want to fill the gap better in my longer clubs. The Nike VR_S Covert Tour 3-wood and 5-wood do the trick. They both have Graphite Design BB-8X shafts (D-3.5 and D-4 swingweight, in the neutral setting).
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IRONSMy Nike VR Pro Combos (True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts, D-3 swingweight) are cavity-backs in the 3- through 6-iron. The rest are blades. It's a new concept for me. Off-center hits with the blades, you notice more.
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WEDGESI carry a 55- and 59.5-degree Nike VR Pro, in addition to a 49-degree pitching wedge. From the fairway, they don't spin it too much. But I can still get my chips to check up.
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PUTTERI've used black putters in the past, so I'd like this Nike Method Prototype (35 inches, 3.5 degrees of loft) in black if Nike is able to make me one like that in the future.
Photo By: J.D. Cuban