This year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open lived up to its billing as “The People’s Open”, giving fans an incredibly memorable tournament with Nick Taylor coming away with the win, and doing so in playoff fashion. Taylor birdied 3 of his final 4 holes, including the 18th to force a playoff with Charley Hoffman. The two would play 18 until one emerged victorious, and it was Taylor who birdied the hole both times they played 18, who would scratch out the victory. 

Taylor’s winning bag is filled with Titleist clubs, though TaylorMade makes a couple appearances, including Taylor’s most valuable clubs perhaps. 

All WITB information is courtesy of GolfWRX.

Starting off Taylor’s bag is a previous generation driver, with Taylor gaming a Titleist TSi3 with a Fujikura Atmos Blue Tour Spec 6X shaft, and playing it at 10 degrees. The TSi3 provides more versatility with its adjustable weighting system but still in a 460cc head. For Taylor, driving the ball wasn’t what won him the tournament as he finished just 42nd in Strokes Gained off the Tee, and tied for 36th in distance. He was better in finding the fairway though, hitting nearly 64 percent of them, good for 22nd best in the field.

Fairway Woods: Titleist TSi2 (3-Wood), TaylorMade SIM2 Max (5-Wood)

For his fairway woods, Taylor plays a pair of different manufacturers, but there’s a similar theme among the duo. For his 3-wood, Taylor uses a Titleist TSi2, and then uses a TaylorMade SIM2 Max for his 5-wood. Both models are the higher launching, more forgiving options within their own line, giving Taylor a consistent approach throughout his woods.

Hybrid: Titleist TSR2 (21 Degrees)

Taylor not only plays two fairway woods, but also plays a hybrid in his bag, opting for a Titleist TSR2. Interestingly, his hybrid is his only current generation club among his long game. Like his fairway woods though, Taylor chooses a higher launching, more forgiving option for his hybrid with the TSR2. While he didn’t have any eagles throughout the tournament, Taylor had no shortage of options from distance.

Irons: Titleist T200 (4-Iron), Titleist T100 (5-9 Irons)

Moving into the irons where Taylor rocks a combination of Titleist Irons. He uses a T200 for his 4 iron, and then for his 5-9 irons, he uses the T100’s. That T200 is a players distance iron, whereas the T100 are a players iron. That higher launching, more forgiving 4-iron continues the same theme as his woods and hybrid, while the rest of his irons give him a more precise option. His iron play was one of the stalwarts that led to his victory. He finished 9th in Strokes Gained Approach to Green, and tied for 2nd in total greens in regulation, finding 61 of 74 greens on his way to victory.

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46 + 54 Degree), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58 Degree)

Much like his iron play, Taylor’s wedge play was fantastic. Using the new Titleist Vokey Design SM10’s for his 46 and 54 degrees, and blending those with a 58 degree Vokey WedgeWorks, Taylor’s wedges were outstanding all week long. They played a major role in his Strokes Gained Approach to Green, and GIR percentage, but around the green Taylor was 14th in Strokes Gained, while he led the field in scrambling. Getting up and down 12 out the 13 times he missed the green in regulation.

While his iron and wedge play was superb, his putter was even better. Taylor uses a TaylorMade Spider Tour Red or his flatstick and it was the star of the show all tournament long. He led the field in Strokes Gained Putting, finished 2nd in Putts per GIR, and ranked 3rd in the field in total putts. While his putting was outstanding throughout the tournament, it shined brightest in the tournament’s biggest moments. Needing a birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff, Taylor left himself about a 10 foot putt to pull even with Charley Hoffman, and got it to catch the lip and drop sending he and Hoffman back to 18 for the playoff. Taylor would birdie 18 on the first playoff hole, and then again from 11 feet on the 2nd playoff hole, which proved to be the winning putt.