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The hottest LPGA player in the world won without using a driver
If you’re the type that prefers to scroll down and look at the clubs that were in the winner’s bag first, no, we’re not missing Ariya Jutanugarn’s driver. That’s because Jutanugarn didn’t carry one at the Volvik Championship, preferring to use her TaylorMade AeroBurner 3-wood and a trio of utility irons to keep the ball in play off the tee at Travis Pointe C.C. in Ann Arbor, Mich. The 3-wood was the only metal wood in her bag last week as she also took out her hybrid in favor of a 50-degree Titleist Vokey SM6 gap wedge.
Jutanugarn’s strategy was not a one-week thing. She also ditched the driver at the HSBC Women’s Champions and ANA Inspiration earlier this season. Of course, such a tactic is easier to defend when you’re one of the longest hitters on the women’s circuit. Jutanugarn ranks 16th on the LPGA Tour in average driving distance at nearly 267 yards—not bad when you’re hitting a lot of 3-woods and utility irons.
Here are the 14 clubs Jutanugarn had in the bag at the Volvik Championship.
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
3-wood: TaylorMade AeroBurner, 15 degrees
Irons (2): TaylorMade RSi TP UDI; (3): Callaway Apex UT; (4): TaylorMade RSi TP UDI; (5-9): Titleist 716 AP2; (PW): Titleist SM6
Wedges: Titleist SM6 (50, 56, 60 degrees)
Putter: Odyssey Works Cruiser V-Line