New things for Ryan Moore: irons, drills, even shoes
TODD MILLES; Staff writer
Like many, Puyallup’s Ryan Moore is a creature of comfort. He’s constantly tweaking his life, inside and outside golf, to find the right balance so he doesn’t get jittery at the first sign of discord.
This week, the Cascade Christian product is playing in his 12th major championship tournament – the 110th U.S. Open – at famed Pebble Beach Golf Links near Monterey, Calif.
Moore earned an automatic exemption to this year’s tournament based on his finish last year at Bethpage Black in New York – a tie for 10th.
In fact, the tougher the tournament, the better Moore usually plays. Of the seven cuts he has made at majors, he finished in the top 15 four times, including a tie for 14th at the Masters in April.
It seems Moore starts playing his best golf right around this time, too.
“I have no idea why. I wish I could tell you,” he said from the Chambers Bay Golf Course clubhouse in a sitdown interview last week. “Maybe I like the tournaments better. I really enjoy this portion of the year.”
Some of the minor adjustments he’s made recently:
• He made a large corporate transaction, buying into Dallas-based True Linkswear, a golf apparel company.
Moore has been sporting their prototype golf shoe at various PGA Tour events. In fact during his round last week at Chambers Bay, not only was he wearing the shoes, so were his brother, Jeremy; his swing coach, Troy Denton; and a company representative.
“My feet have never been happier,” he said.
• Moore is swinging a newly shaped, better-crafted version of his Scratch Golf irons – a change he’s very content with.
Jeff McCoy, Scratch Golf’s primary clubmaker, had been hand-grinding Moore’s clubs.
But in January, Don White – a former MacGregor worker who has designed irons for 14 major championship winners, including Jack Nicklaus – joined the company.
In late May, White made his first set of clubs for Moore.
“(White) does amazing work,” Moore said. “I like the shaping of them. They’re a little squarer looking (on the toe of the club) than rounded. I got the set, and visually right away, I loved them. They’re amazing.”
• During a recent trip to Dallas, Moore said he found an old Ping putter in the garage of Denton, his former UNLV teammate.
Moore has been trying out different putters all season, but will keep his old flat stick in the bag this week – the one he used to finish a season-best tied for fifth at Memorial, June 3-6.
• During his weeks off, at Denton’s request, Moore has been practicing less and playing more practice rounds.
Beside his round at Chambers Bay last week, he played twice at Tacoma Country and Golf Club in Lakewood, and spent time at his home course, the Classic Country Club.
“Some things about my golf swing have been coming around,” he said. “It’s just a comfort and confidence. Playing a little more golf outside the tournaments has helped.”
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
