Equipment Insider

Parker McLachlins new Titleist shaft paying dividends

By David Allen
Jul 1, 2009 1:28 PM ET

Parker McLachlin was fitted by Titleist for a new shaft in his driver this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and it's already paying dividends. McLachlin fired an opening-round 5-under-par 67 on Thursday, and was one of six players one shot back of Charlie Wi heading into Friday's second round.

McLachlin, who was admittedly struggling with his driver heading into this week, birdied three of the four par-5s at TPC Louisiana en route to his 67. Titleist fitted him with a Diamana White 63 X shaft in his 909 D2 driver (10.5 degrees) and a Diamana 73 X in his 909 F2 3-wood (15.5 degrees).

McLachlin won last year's Legends Reno-Tahoe Open to earn a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, and has two top-25 finishes in 10 starts this season. A native of Hawaii, McLachlin's father, Chris, was the high school basketball coach of President Barack Obama at Punahou High School in Honolulu.