What's In My Bag: Mackenzie Hughes

September 25, 2017

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Photo By: Photo by Ross Kinard/Getty Images

Photo By: Equipment photos by Dom Furore

Photo By: Photo by Street Lecka/Getty Images

Photo By: Hughes via Instagram

MACKENZIE HUGHES
AGE: 26
LIVES: Charlotte
STORY: Wire-to-wire winner of the 2016 RSM Classic as a PGA Tour rookie.

FAMILY GAME
Golf wasn't a year-round sport growing up in Canada. I learned to play on a short course at my home club, Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club, in Ontario. My parents were beginners, too, and we all started together.

QUICK STUDY
I was ready to spend my first year on tour learning the courses and establishing my routine. Winning was great, but it definitely changes your expectations on the fly.
—With Matthew Rudy

Photo By: Photo by Ross Kinard/Getty Images

Photo By: Equipment photos by Dom Furore

DRIVER
SPECS: Ping G400 LST (8.5˚), Project X HZRDUS T1100 75g X-flex, 44.75 inches, D-3 swingweightI put the new Ping G400 in play the first week I got it, at the Travelers. It was a lot more consistent for me. I'm hitting it farther and straighter, which is a good combination.

FAIRWAY WOODS
SPECS: Ping G 3-wood (13.5˚), Aldila 2KNV Green 75TX shaft; G400 7-wood (20.5˚), Aldila NV Green 85TX shaft; D-2 swingweightDepending on conditions, I switch between a 5-wood and 7-wood. With the 7-wood, I can be in deep rough 200 out and smash down on it and get it out.

WEDGES
SPECS: Ping Glide 2.0 52˚ SS, 56˚ SS and 60˚ WS. True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shaftsThe Ping guys surprised me last fall with these maple-leaf initials etched on the back of my wedges. It's a really nice touch. Looks classy.

IRONS
SPECS: Ping S55 4-iron through PW, Project X 6.5 shafts. Golf Pride New Decade Multicompound 60R gripsI've had these for three years: for my first PGA Tour win and the Web.com Price Cutter Charity Championship win, which got me my card.

PUTTER
SPECS: Ping PLD Piper C, 35 inches. Ping PP58 Full Cord Midsize gripIt took some tweaking with lead tape and the grip, but I found the right combination four years ago, and I've used a similar model since.

LOVE LETTERS
I mark my Titleist Pro V1 with my wife's initials (Jenna Renee Hughes). We met freshman year and got married in 2016.

LOONIE TUNE
I use a Canadian dollar coin to mark my ball. Yes, it's really called a loonie, for the bird on one side. Our $2 coin? You guessed it. It's called a toonie.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Kent State coach Herb Page is Canadian, and the team had three Canadian guys I knew. I had a great four years there.

GOING LOW
When I shot 61 at the RSM, I was thinking about 59 by the 12th tee. I knew I was playing well, so I stayed aggressive. It was a fun thing.

Photo By: Photo by Street Lecka/Getty Images

STAR-STRUCK
One big difference between the Web.com and the PGA Tour? The pro-ams. At Pebble Beach, I played with NFL quarterback Alex Smith and met Justin Timberlake.

Photo By: Hughes via Instagram