In the weeks leading up to the Masters, players who know they are going to be in the field typically request a fresh set of wedges, have the lofts and lies in their irons checked and settle on the gear they intend to use at Augusta National. But that is not as easy as you might think.
The turf around the greens is cut diabolically tight, which would make skilled players want to use a low-bounce sand wedge or lob wedge, yet the sand in greenside bunkers tends to be soft and fluffy, so a higher-bounce sand and lob wedge could be beneficial. There is also no rough at Augusta National, so some players take out their 5-woods and go with driving irons instead. However, if the greens are especially firm, as they are expected to be this week, the added height a 5-wood can deliver means stopping power on long approach shots, which can be critical.
Five months ago, Dustin Johnson won his first Masters and his second career major using a TaylorMade SIM driver and 3-wood, but since Tiger Woods slipped the green jacket over Johnson’s shoulders in Butler Cabin in the fall, TaylorMade has released a new line of woods. Johnson has switched to a new 10.5-degree SIM2 driver and 16.5-degree SIM2 fairway wood and plans to use them this week.
Here is a list of all the clubs the Masters champions have used to win at Augusta National since 2010.