How a broken 6-iron in Scotland helped Pepperell win British Masters

Eddie Pepperell was left to thank breaking his 6-iron two weeks ago at the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, as the shaft switch he made with his club sponsor Mizuno made a world of difference at the British Masters last week.

Pepperell, who was recently fitted to Mizuno's stunning new JPX919 Tour irons, needed a 6-iron shaft in Scotland after the Mizuno workshop had left, and the 27-year-old had to raid a local shop ‘Auchterlonies’ for an emergency replacement.

All that was available at short notice was the KBS C Taper that he used in his 6-iron, something Mizuno's Tour technician Matt McIsaac said "he was hitting all his best shots with."

TESTED: MIZUNO JPX 919 IRONS; HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?

On Monday afternoon of the British Masters, Mizuno had a filming session booked with Pepperell to demonstrate its Shaft Optimizer – a fitting tool used through its retail fitting network. 

With no script to follow, McIsaac took Pepperell through Mizuno’s three swing diagnostic process and by some coincidence – it recommended the KBS C Taper.  The same shaft Pepperell had picked up at Auchterlonies in St Andrews.

One new set of JPX919 Tour irons, with KBS C Taper shafts later and Pepperell was a wire-to-wire winner of the British Masters.

READ: PEPPERELL'S CADDIE TALKS EXCLUSIVELY TO GOLFMAGIC

“There’s a ‘best fit’ shaft for everyone – for Eddie it was the KBS C Taper – for someone else it will be the S Taper," said McIsaac.

"Wait for the moment when you’re open to improvement, throw away your preconceptions and try the Optimizer.  It doesn’t know if you’re male, female a tour winner or a 24 hcp – just measures your move and finds the best shaft for it."

Pepperell, who also won the Qatar Masters earlier this season, has now climbed up to a career-high 33rd in the world and seventh in the European Tour's Race to Dubai standings. 

He also uses Mizuno's T7 wedges in 46, 50, 56 and 60-degree models, as well as a Mizuno MP-18 MMC Fli-Hi 2-iron.

For more information about Mizuno's Swing DNA and Shaft Optimizer, and all the current Mizuno products, please visit golf.mizunoeurope.com