Johnson's 2-Iron, Mickelson's 5-Wood "Winged Foot Winning Weapons?"

Strategies for Different US Open Battlefields: "The Course is Long, Fairways are Narrow, and Greens are Like Glass"

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson (above) added a '2-iron' in preparation for the US Open, while Phil Mickelson added a 5-wood.

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun, Reporter Noh Woo-rae] "2-iron, 5-wood, 64-degree wedge."

This is the secret weapon to tackle the battleground of the 120th US Open, which opened on the 18th (Korean time) at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York (par 70, 7,477 yards). World No. 1 Dustin Johnson (USA) focused on the 17-degree 2-iron. This is to protect the 'ant waist' fairway. Winged Foot is notorious as the 'Devil's Course.' In fact, if you stray from the fairway, the thick rough immediately traps you, making even 'par on' difficult.

It is worth noting that Johnson achieved an amazing record of 'win-second place-win' in three playoff (PO) tournaments. The main contributor was the 21-degree 7-wood. However, this time he bet on the 2-iron, which has a low initial launch angle and allows him to freely use both draw and fade shots. Jordan Spieth (USA) also raised his driver loft to 10 degrees, which is similar. The strategy is to first land the ball on the fairway.

Veteran Phil Mickelson (USA) added a 9-degree driver, a 13.5-degree 3-wood, and an 18-degree 5-wood. It is interesting that winning this tournament would be the final puzzle to become the sixth 'career grand slammer' in global golf history. Over nine years, he collected three different major championship trophies: the 2004 Masters, the 2005 PGA Championship, and the 2013 Open Championship. The problem is the US Open. He finished as runner-up six times?in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2013.

It is truly a 'vexing bad relationship.' Moreover, Winged Foot left a 'sad story' when Mickelson, leading by one stroke on the final day in 2006, lost the victory with a double bogey on the last 18th hole (par 4). At that time, his driver tee shot flew into the rough, forcing him to walk a thorny path. His second shot hit a tree, and the third shot landed in a bunker, ultimately resulting in a '4 on 2 putts' double bogey, a fatal blow. Even the chance for a playoff disappeared.

Winged Foot's course length increased by 200 yards from 7,264 yards in 2006 to 7,477 yards this year. Considering his age of 50, a driver is essential. This is why Mickelson insists on the 13.5-degree 3-wood as a 'driver substitute.' Adding the 18-degree 5-wood, he is practicing high trajectory shots to avoid greenside bunkers in emergencies. His wedges are subdivided into 56, 60, and 64 degrees. Considering the 'glass plate greens,' he is betting on an accurate short game that leaves uphill putts.