Here’s a safe bet — the non-adjustable Nike Covert Tour Version 5 driver that made its way onto the USGA’s List of Conforming Driver Heads this week was created specifically for Tiger Woods.
Click here to see what members are saying about the driver in the forums.
According to a source at Nike Golf, Woods was “really close” to switching to an adjustable version of a Nike Covert Tour driver earlier in the year — the Tour-only Version 3 or Version 4 model of the driver that was spotted on the USGA’s list in February. But after Woods rattled off wins at the WGC-Cadillac Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship, the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer lost interest in testing new drivers, the source said.
After disappointing weeks at The Memorial, where Woods finished T65, and the U.S. Open, where he finished T32, it appears that Woods is ready to test drivers again.
Like the Version 3 and 4, the Covert Tour Version 5 does not have a visible weight screw in the sole, which indicates a center of gravity change from the retail model. And while the USGA’s photos are black and white, it is obvious that the driver has the same Covert Tour color scheme, which features a black PVD finish on the face and sole instead of the silver face and sole on Nike’s higher spinning non-Tour driver.
The Nike Covert Tour Version 3 (left) and Version 4 (right) are nearly indistinguishable from each other. But the new Version 5 lacks Nike’s FlexLoft system, which removes adjustability to give Woods the longer, skinnier hosel he prefers to see at address.
The thing that’s new about the Version 5 is that it lacks Nike’s FlexLoft technology, an adjustable hosel that allows Covert drivers to be tweaked from 8.5 to 12.5 degrees of loft, and accommodates three independent face angles — left, neutral and right (Click here to read more about the retail versions of Nike’s Covert and Covert Tour drivers).
It’s doubtful, however, that a golfer of Woods’ caliber needs to make loft and face angle adjustments to a custom-made driver, as he’s been playing drivers with similar lofts and face angles for several years. And the lack of an adjustable hosel means that the Version 5′s hosel is skinner, a look that Woods prefers at address.
Woods is currently on a break from competitive golf until the British due to golfer’s elbow, a condition that he said he aggravated during The Players Championship in early May.
At this year’s Masters, Woods decided to put a new Nike VR_S Covert 3 wood in his bag, which he said was necessary because he had “cracked,” or broken the faces of too many of his old Nike VR Pro Limited Edition 3 woods.
As in most British Opens, Woods likely won’t be hitting the driver that much anyways. He’ll rely on his Covert 3 wood, and maybe a 2 iron or 5 wood off the tee. So it wouldn’t be a shock to see him use a new driver on July 18 in Scotland.
Click here to see what members are saying about the driver in the forums.