Once upon a time, in what must seem like an age ago, Colin Montgomerie - at the peak of his powers - made the observation that "you need a driver to win the US Open, and a putter to win the US Masters."
How times change, as exemplified by Phil Mickelson's decision to include two drivers in his bag in the quest for a second green jacket at Augusta this week.
Where once it was possible to drive the ball onto broad fairways, the metamorphosis in the course's set-up - with additional trees, longer holes, narrower landing areas, and rough - means that the driver is an increasingly important tool.
Mickelson, recognising this and seeking to utilise one of his strong points, has decided (just as he did in winning the BellSouth Classic at the weekend) to have two drivers in his bag at the expense of a sand wedge.
Mickelson has drivers with different shaft lengths, one of 44 inches and one of 46. One extenuates drawing the ball, the other fading it.
"Our new slogan at Callaway is the only thing better than an FT3 driver is two FT3 drivers," said Mickelson, adding: "I decided there were too many shots off the tee where I needed different distances and these drivers are different distances.
"All of the right-to-left holes, I didn't have to hit it very hard; and all of the left-to-right holes, I had to hit it pretty far. I hit a driver I hit a long ways that draws, and I have a driver that fades and stays in play."
If Mickelson wanted the perfect test run for his reasoning, it came at the BellSouth where he hit 64 greens of 72 in regulation and finished with a 65 for a winning total of 28-under 280. Jose Maria Olazabal and Zach Johnson finished tied-second, 13 shots behind.
Of the two driver concept, Mickelson remarked: "It worked out really well. The way the internal weighting of the club (is), one draws it and takes the left side out of play; and one fades it, and takes the right side out of play. It's great because I only have to play with half the trouble."
His decision to replace a sand wedge with a driver has caused some raised eyebrows, but not an undue amount of surprise.
"I can see his decision of not playing a sand wedge and I can see his decision of two drivers," said Padraig Harrington, who used a longer 47 inch shaft on his driver in the final round of the BellSouth and who intends to use it again here in Augusta.
"If I was allowed 15 clubs this week," added Harrington, "the decision would be between an extra lob wedge and a second driver.
"Technically it is a driver plus a strong three-wood, so that the second three-wood is your driver. I can see where he is coming from."
Michael Campbell, the US Open champion who has missed the cut in all five Augusta showings, said:
"I can understand where Phil is coming from because, as they lengthen courses like Augusta, the emphasis is more on driving accuracy."
And Paul McGinley, too, could see Mickelson's thinking.
"Phil thinks outside the box, that's one thing you have got to give him credit for. He is a leader, not a follower. I'm a fan of Mickelson in general, I think he is good for the game.
"I mean, here's me making a big debate as to whether to put in the new Taylormade ball, which is absolutely a world class golf ball and one that I'll be using very quickly, and he is putting in two drivers and taking out a sand wedge. It is a pretty ballsy decision to make."
