The Open makes a turn for Turnberry

July 17th, 2009

Those players that had either played themselves in by right or qualified at International Final Qualifying or Local Final Qualifying descended on Turnberry in Ayrshire this week for the 138th Open Championship. By the time most of the players arrived, the Titleist Tour Support Vehicle (TTSV) had already been on the range for at least four days, having arrived from Loch Lomond on the previous Thursday.

Click here to view the slideshow

The Ailsa Course at Turnberry is surely one of the most spectacular courses in World golf – with big carries, treacherous rough and penal bunkers, positioning will be at a premium to post a good score! The scene of one of the best Open Championships ever – the famous “Duel in the Sun” between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in 1977 – the Ailsa Course has been lengthened to 7204 yards for the 2009 contest.

Having worked hard with many of the Titleist staffers last week at the Barclays Scottish Open, requests to the Titleist Tour Team for changes or club introductions were fewer than they would be at a normal tournament. The majority of players prefer to come into a Major Championship with the clubs in their bag settled.

There are, of course, always a few changes at The Open and the TTT was kept busy working with players to check club set up – loft, lie and grip replacement. One visitor to the TTSV was 2003 Open Champion Ben Curtis – “Big Ben”, as he is known, wanted to get a 2-iron to be able to hit his “stinger” and position the ball in the fairway off the tee. Ben was fitted into the following:

Club: AP2 2-iron
Shaft: Dynamic Gold S400
Length: Standard
Grip: Tour Velvet 58R
Loft: 1 deg strong
Lie: 1 deg upright
Swingweight: D3

Another visitor from the PGA Tour to The Open is Titleist full line staffer DJ Trahan. Having spent some time chatting with fellow Titleist Ambassador Adam Scott and trying out his driver, DJ wanted to try out some new options. The Tour Team made up the following, which DJ will continue testing:

Club: 909 D3 8.5°
Shaft: Aldila XPP6 X-flex (prototype)
Length: 44” tipped 1.5”
Grip: X-Line C 58R
Swingweight: D4.5

Club: 909 D3 8.5°
Shaft: ProForce V2 86g X-flex
Length: 44” tipped 1.5”
Grip: X-Line C 58R
Swingweight: D4.5

Titleist Ambassador Ryuji Imada also wanted to work on some driver options, so he spent some time with US Titleist Tour Rep Chris Tuten, looking for a stronger and more penetrating flight. After looking at the numbers that Ryuji was developing on the Trackman launch monitor, Chris arranged for the following drivers to be made up for Ryuji to try:

Club: 909 D2 10.5°
Shaft: UST Atlas 60 X-flex
Length: 45” tipped 1”
Grip: Tour Velvet 60
Swingweight: D4

Club: 909 D2 9.5°
Shaft: Graphite Design YS6 X-flex
Length: 45” tipped 1”
Grip: Tour Velvet 60
Swingweight: D4

As well as Chris, the Titleist European Tour Team was joined by other colleagues from the US as they helped players prepare for The Open. As we reported yesterday on the European Tour Blog, wedge legend and all-round-nice-guy Bob Vokey was on hand to impart his knowledge to players and Titleist colleagues alike. Voke was striding up and down the range, as well as on and off the workshop on the TTSV at Turnberry, as he worked tirelessly with so many players looking to gain that extra feel and control on the Ailsa’s tricky greens.

Voke also celebrated his 70th birthday this week – happy birthday from us all at the Titleist European Tour Blog and, I’m sure, from our readers! Bob was surprised by Titleist staffer Mark O’Meara, who presented him with a card signed by many of the world’s best golfers (see slide show).

Scotty Cameron rep Larry Silveira was also on hand to assist any players with putter adjustments or wishing to try out new flatsticks. Larry issued the limited edition British Open headcovers from the Cameron Studio, featuring scooters and a helmeted Scotty Dog (see slide show for pics) to a number of players competing this week.

We’ve already seen how the weather can twist and turn playing conditions at Turnberry, and more “mixed” weather is predicted! We’re sure to be in for another thrilling competition, but unlike 1977, it seems less likely to be a repeat of the “Duel in the Sun” and more likely to be “Tussle in the Rain”!! The European Tour moves onto Barsebäck Golf & Country Club, Malmö, Sweden, next week for the SAS Masters. We’ll be there, inside the ropes to bring you the scoops and updates that keep you in the picture with the world’s best players!

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