Sport: Can't See Woods For the Tees

Metaling with tradition

Spring is in the air (fore), and old men's fancies are returning to thoughts of golf, an ancient reverie that may seem to have lost a little romance since Jack Nicklaus began driving recently with a metal wood. But maybe not.

On the tongue and on the ball, metal wood is the dumbest-sounding oxymoron since jumbo shrimp. But, like television journalist, its usage has proliferated beyond the inventors' dreams. Once lovingly crafted of tempered wood, the heads of drivers are going steel. If even Nicklaus is bonging these days instead of bashing, the game has certainly changed. "I still hit the...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!