The Loop
Euro Tour pro shoots 68 with two drivers, embarrasses Eddie Pepperell in the process
Andrew Redington
The idea of using two drivers in a professional golf event is just that - an idea. Only Phil Mickelson has ever had the guts/questionable-decision-making skills to give it an actual go (on multiple occasions, mind you).
Thanks to one equally bold European Tour pro, Mickelson now has some company. England's Callum Shinkwin went the two-driver route in the first round of the Golf in Dubai Championship, and it actually worked. The 27-year-old opened with a 68 with using two big sticks at Jumeriah Golf Estates:
Impressive stuff from Shinkwin, who only needed one driver when he claimed his first European Tour title last month at the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open. According to one of Shinkwin's playing partners Eddie Pepperell, Shinkwin hits both of them quite far (one is shorter than the other). Well, at least further than Pepperell:
Despite the advantage, he only clipped Pepperell by one stroke. That's not the reason Eddie will likely never give this strategy a try, though:
Unfortunately for both Pepperell and Shinkwin, their scores weren't nearly enough to be in sniffing distance of the third member of their group, fellow Englishman Andy Sullivan. Sullivan threw up an 11-under 61 to grab the solo lead. Sheesh. Shinkwin may need to add a third driver to close that gap.