INVESTMENT PAID OFFAt the U.S. Open the week before my win, I felt like I was hitting the ball as well as I ever had. So I sought out a good chat with Peter Crone, my mental coach, to sort things out. Normally I leave a tournament and forget about it, but I could sense an opportunity was there. We put a plan into action, and it was great to see it pay off with a win. I always believed I would win in the U.S., but you don't know until it happens.
HARDWARE PROMISEI don't make promises I can't keep—especially not to my kids. So when my daughter, Emmie, asked me at the end of last season why I didn't have a trophy, I decided to promise her one. I thought if I promised her, maybe I'd put a little extra something into keeping it. When I brought the trophy home in June, we filled it with Swedish candies. It was a sweet, satisfying treat.
CLEAR EYESI don't have allergies, but I carry eyedrops and allergy tablets just in case. The eyedrops are useful when I get something in my eyes. It's better to be safe than sorry, even if it's just on the range.
BLOCK IT OUTI mark my Callaway Tour iZ ball with a black dot over the number. My caddie, Neil Wallace, noticed that it helps me stop thinking about which numbers treat me better than others.
COIN OF CHOICEI use the Swedish five kroner to mark my ball. It's fairly big and visible so I can see it on longer putts. I'm not very superstitious, or so I say. (Don't ask my caddie.) If I misplace it, I'll replace it with any other coin.
PAINTER'S CAPI began wearing a short-brim hat this year. I used to wear a visor (or no cap) when I was young, but I have less hair now and need protection for my head when the sun is strong.
THE JERKY BOYSThis is a bag of venison jerky made by my surfing buddy, Bob Sailey. He's a hunter, so he sends me a baggie. I don't eat much, but it makes for a nice, solid snack at the turn.
DRIVERI've tried different drivers, but I prefer ones without a line on top. I like the clean look of the Callaway Diablo Octane Tour (8.5 degrees, Fujikura Blur shaft, 195 grams), which I switched to at Congressional before this year's U.S. Open.
FAIRWAY WOODSI play a Big Bertha Callaway Diablo 3-wood (13 degrees) and a Diablo Octane Tour 5-wood (18 degrees, Miyazaki shafts). I picked up this 3-wood after seeing Phil Mickelson fly it to the green on a par 4 during the 2010 U.S. Open. I knew right away I had to take a look.
IRONSI carry 3- through 9-iron Callaway Diablo Forged irons (Dynamic Gold Lite shafts and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 58 Ribbed grips). I played a hybrid until last year, but I didn't like the in-between feel. I'm comfortable with my current setup.
WEDGESI bend my wedges slightly, so I feel I can hit any distance swinging three-quarters. I use a 47- and 53-degree Callaway X-Forged and a 59-degree Callaway X-Forged with a C-Grind sole.
PUTTERI've used the Odyssey Black Series Tour Designs i #1 since I signed with Callaway four years ago. I tend to stick with a putter once I like it; as a junior, I used the same one for 20 years until switching to this one.
