what's in my bag
What's In My Bag: Patty Tavatanakit
Photograph courtesy of Getty Images
As a professional you hit a lot of shots, but some stand out. For me the 6-iron I hit on the 16th hole in the final round of the 2024 Honda LPGA Thailand sticks out. It was a tough par 3 of 176 yards, and I told myself to look at the target just like a sniper, and I was able to pull it off, make birdie and seal the win with
a birdie on 18. —With Tod Leonard
DRIVER
SPECS
Titleist TSR2, 8°, Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Blue 50 S shaft.
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This all-around user-friendly design should fit most golfers with its focus on forgiveness, ease of launch and maximum ball speed. The head’s internal weighting results in the lowest center of gravity in a Titleist steel fairway wood ever. Freeing up the interior space around the hosel provided more mass that’s positioned in a flat weight that sits slightly forward in the lowest part of the head. This provides better energy transfer by lining up the CG with the center of the face. It also helps to reduce spin.
The TSR2 has a larger head that’s wider heel to toe than the TSR3. It’s more forgiving compared to the other TSR models. I play an 8-degree head that lowers my spin, but I add a little loft that makes it easier to draw the ball.
FAIRWAY WOODS
SPECS
TaylorMade SIM2 Ti, 15°, Mitsubishi Tensei Blue 60 S shaft; Titleist TSR2, 18°, Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro White 60 S.
Finding the right 3-wood is difficult because I spin the ball a lot. Plus, hitting it off a tee and the ground is a hard combo to fit, too. This SIM2 Ti reduces spin. It’s good off the tee, but I can hit it off the fairway, too. The lead tape on the bottom helps with that.
IRONS
SPECS
Titleist T200 (4-iron), Graphite Design Tour AD DI-85 S; Titleist T100 (5-iron through PW), Nippon NS Pro 950GH S shafts, Iomic 2.3 grips.
The T100 is the most-played iron on the PGA Tour, so it’s easy to see how some might view the T200 in a lesser light. Nothing could be more wrong. This club has undergone a substantial overhaul. A ball speed boost comes from a face that wraps around the sole for extra flex at impact. A more stable frame, dense tungsten weights and a revamped polymer core and support-bar structure behind the face improve ball-speed consistency on mis-hits, too. It’s no wonder some PGA Tour pros use these for their long irons.
A proven performer has little need to make drastic changes. This does not mean the latest T100 hasn’t undergone any improvements. The dual-cavity design uses super dense D18 tungsten (which weighs about 1.5 times more than lead), allowing for precise center-of-gravity placement in each iron without sacrificing the premium forged feel and pleasing shape the T100 is known for. Engineers worked with tour pros and the grind experts in its wedge department to smooth and soften the trail edge of the sole to allow the club to move faster through the turf.
I can flight the ball any way I want with the T100s. They get through the turf better than the cavity-backs I was using. The T200 4-iron gets me more height. It’s one of my favorite clubs in the bag.
WEDGES
SPECS
Titleist Vokey SM10 (50°, 56°, 60°); Nippon NS Pro Modus3 115 shafts.
The new SM10 line is beyond complete with plenty of options for those savvy enough to get fit for wedges. The center-of-gravity location received particular attention. The smaller profile and shorter hosel lengths (on lofts 46 to 52) help drive the CG low to make the transition from short irons easier. In the 54- through 62-degree models, the CG has moved up, forward and toward the center to promote a lower, more controlled flight. The “spin milled” grooves have been updated and when combined with a texture between the grooves increase spin by as much as 300 revolutions per minute.
I just put the SM10s in the bag this year. I play a variety of shots with my wedges, and these are very versatile. I have some cool stampings on my wedges. The “Balance” on the 60-degree is to remind me that having balance in all aspects of your life is a important thing.
PUTTER
SPECS
Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 tour prototype; 34 inches, 3°.
The appeal of Bettinardi’s putter shaping is that the designs look like something from a simpler era. The company’s milling process, however, is built on a seamless blending of old-world vision and modern-day precision. The face’s flymill pattern creates a uniform feel, sound and control from heel to toe. The subtle sloping of the shoulders in the back flange frames a ball-width cavity and centers the putterhead’s mass to stabilize aim and stroke.
I’ve used different putters, but this Bettinardi has been with me a long time. It’s comfortable under pressure. I have a Scotty Cameron T5 I’ve been practicing with, but I need more reps with it.
THE REAL FEEL
I need to hear a good sound from the golf ball. I need to feel it, too. The Pro V1x just gives me a little bit more feedback. It spins really well around the green, too.
ON-COURSE EATS
Nenov
The stuff I eat on the course is pretty basic. I tend to go with protein bars, one bit of electrolytes per round and bananas. All of those help keep my energy up while I’m playing.
CHARACTER TRAIT
These are my favorite Sanrio characters, which is kind of like Hello Kitty, but Hello Kitty was too girly for me with all the pink. I loved this character, called Kuromi, when I was younger.
