LITTLE BIG MANGrowing up, my hero was Ben Hogan. I read all the books about him, and I sort of tried to be like him because his size was like mine [5-feet-8], and he was kind of quiet on the course and took care of business. Another guy that comes to mind is Paul Runyan. I'd like to learn more about him. He seems like somebody who just figured out a way to get the ball in the hole. He was somewhat of a David against Goliaths, and I kind of feel like that, too.
PLAY YOUR GAMEMy advice on equipment: Learn as much as you can, find the equipment that's best for you, and realize that the guys who are hitting it longer still have to take two shots to reach a par 4. You might be back there with a 4-iron, and he's got a wedge in his hand, but it's still going to be a second shot into a green. And you can frustrate those longer hitters just by playing your game and holing some putts.
EXACT CHANGEI have a quarter and a penny in my pocket at all times: a quarter for when I'm far from the hole and a penny for when I'm close.
PRIORITIESI carry a rule book, some Zero Friction tees (they worked for Kenny Perry in 2008, so I switched) and my yardage book. My sons, Lane and Cole, are on page one. Family's my primary focus.
LUCKY DOTSI put red and black dots on my Titleist Pro V1x (2009 version). I've been doing that since 1995. I actually thought about changing it at the start of this year, but I'm not changing a thing now.
CLASSIC ARTISTSI've got a Mitchell bending machine. Makes me feel like Arnold Palmer back in the day. I adjust my lofts and lies with a little classic rock playing in the background.
HUNGRY MANI eat a lot during a round. I always have ZonePerfect bars (my nutrition bar of choice), but I'll also eat two chicken-breast sandwiches if it's an afternoon round. I'll often go to the deli, get some lunchmeat and make them myself.
DRIVERMy driver is a Ping i15 (8 degrees, Grafalloy prototype Tour, X-flex, 45 inches). I tend to hang back when I swing and launch the ball high.
FAIRWAY WOODMy 3-wood is a Cleveland Hi-Bore XLS (13 degrees, Aldila NV, X-flex, 95 grams).
WEDGESI play Ping Tour-W wedges and bend the lofts. The 52 is bent a degree weak with 12 degrees of bounce, and the 60 is bent a degree strong with 10 degrees of bounce.
IRONSMy Ping i10s are specially made with conforming grooves (4-iron through pitching wedge, CS Lite shafts). I've experimented a lot with the lie angle, and I believe I play my best with 2 degrees upright (yellow dot). All my grips are Golf Pride Tour Velvet.
PUTTERI've been putting with an Anser since I was 12. This is a basic Ping Karsten Anser that has been in my bag for the last three years.
