Equipment

GolfWRX new Cameron Tour Rat is in the house!

Published

11 years ago

Jun 1, 2013

I ordered this baby more than six months ago, and was beyond excited when I just got word that the Scotty Cameron Putter Studio had finished it and sent me the photos.

I’m a collector of fine golf equipment, but mostly iron sets. I have what I consider a small collection of five or six Cameron putters — nothing like the real putter collectors who can have rooms of putters that are worth small fortunes.

For those that might not be aware of the Cameron collector community, it is a community of collectors that buy, sell and collect rare “Garage” or one-off Camerons. Click HERE to see an article we did at the PGA Show this year that shows some of the rare, one-of-a-kind putters.

Full disclosure: I worked through Rand Pallis, owner of TheArtofPutters.com, to work with Scotty Cameron and the Cameron Studio to build this one off putter. GolfWRX bought this putter for full price with no discounts.

By the way, if you ever get an opportunity to meet Rand you are in for a treat. He is one of the nicest guys you will every meet — a historian of the game with an infectious passion for golf. He was patient answering all my novice questions, just like he did when I ordered previous putters from him in the last 10 years.

While this process always takes a long time — up to 9 months between the order and receipt — I was happy to wait. The Putter Studio must think a lot of WRX to allow the custom stampings on a machine milled putter. According to Rand, even he hasn’t been allowed to get stamps on a Tour Rat other than initials on the toe.

Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums

Above: A photo of my new Cameron putter

Since the putter is machine engraved, Cameron usually prefers not to put any hand stamps on them. We have seen tour players with them, but not a lot on the open market.

I asked for a “W” “R” “X ” in the center of the black bombs, but instead I got “T” “R” “A.” “RA” is my initials, and thought they might look good on the toe bumper on the cavity side. I am wondering what the “T” is for and Rand is asking Scotty now.

Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums

“WRX” is on the left bumper, and three Circle T’s are on the toe bumper. Nice touch! The “Rat Stamp” (on the face of the putter near the toe) is a tour-only stamping that is very rare.

For Cameron collectors, this putter would be completely over the top. But for us gearheads at GolfWRX, it is the art of putters. We love these things! Rare Rat stamps, three circle T’s hand stamped, WRX on the bumper and the TRA on the bombs make this a bomb.

Special, rare, tour-only products give a tool like this a special place in our bags or collections. It makes us feel as if the tool is special in some way and using it in the game we love adds a bit more vitality or pizazz to the stroke.

Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums

I asked for a blacked out, or “murdered” putter for my personal taste. The black “bombs” and paint fill on the putter is what Scotty Cameron calls Jet Setter, and according to Rand Pallis is very popular right now.

Here are pictures of Rocco Mediate’s putter, who Rand says is the only other golfer to received a “Tour Rat” stamping on the toe of a Cameron putter (click the photos below to expand). The “Circle T” on the cavity toe bumper is the same, but mine has the Circle T with the Jet Setter paint fill.

This putter will soon be here and I will follow up with some more photos.

Click here to see more photos and read the discussion in the forums

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Richard Audi

Richard Audi is the Founder and President of GolfWRX.com. Along with his responsibilities on GolfWRX he oversees the operations of Roundhouse Network (Digital Media Development Company) and The Oakwood Group (Automotive Innovation Manufacturing Company). He is an avid golfer living in Michigan. In 2005 Founded GolfWRX with a mission is to provide the best un-bias golf news and the ultimate social platform on the web for golfers. Not to just cover equipment buzz but the people in the industry that inspire us. GolfWRX is built to deliver fast, comprehensive news, in-depth feature stories and reviews that bridge the gap between criticism and buying advice. The site is powered by a team of close staff and friends (Reid "pitbull808", Rob, Ben "action jackson", Ryan, Zak, Greg "ironman", Aaron, Johnny, Matt, Steve, Todd, Geo, George, Ryan, Carlo, Jonathan, Scott, Zach the TMag freak, Wyatt, Phil, Joe the Ho) and then over 1.5 million gear-heads every month that share the passion for the best game in the world.

19 Comments

Joe

Jan 3, 2014 at 1:20 am

While I love most Titleist stuff, and they obviously command a larger ticket, but none are more overrated than Cameron putters. I’ll be just fine with my Metal X Odyssey, thank you.

Reply Report comment
Mike M

Jan 2, 2014 at 10:39 pm

i love your putter ! really awesome

Reply Report comment
Todd

Dec 31, 2013 at 11:30 am

No more 3-putts, right? ; ) Nice putter!

Reply Report comment
JEFF I

Jun 10, 2013 at 2:03 pm

I think the T is for TOOL!

Reply Report comment
Rich

Jun 7, 2013 at 10:03 am

Hey, That’s my nickname!

Reply Report comment
Nelson Feliciano

Jun 3, 2013 at 1:06 pm

Considering it is a tour RAT, It would have been cool if they started with your initials RA and then put the circle T on the third bomb which would spell RAT for ya.

Reply Report comment
- Jack
  
  Jun 4, 2013 at 4:35 am
  
  Now that’s some quick thinking!
  
  Reply Report comment
- midtee9
  
  Jun 6, 2013 at 11:36 am
  
  I agree….he has to get rid of that proto and get the correct one produced.
  
  Reply Report comment
Sean

Jun 3, 2013 at 12:19 am

I really like it. I think the all black look is terrific, which I’m partial too.

Reply Report comment
R

Jun 2, 2013 at 10:29 pm

I’d take out a life insurance policy in your name for that beauty

Reply Report comment
Deck

Jun 2, 2013 at 7:51 pm

Looks great!!! Let us know what the T means. I was thinking Tour but that isn’t the normal stamp for that is it?

Reply Report comment
Brian

Jun 2, 2013 at 9:06 am

I think it looks cheap! Give me your paypal address and I will take it off your hands for $1000.00 I’ll be waiting… Sweet Putter!

Reply Report comment
KCCO

Jun 1, 2013 at 11:45 pm

Very nice!

Reply Report comment
SYP

Jun 1, 2013 at 3:33 pm

What finish is that?

Reply Report comment
- GolfWRX
  
  Jun 1, 2013 at 8:06 pm
  
  black tour mist
  
  Reply Report comment
Mike

Jun 1, 2013 at 3:06 pm

Absolutely stunning!

Reply Report comment
Greg Moore - PGA

Jun 1, 2013 at 2:00 pm

The putter looks great Richard!

Reply Report comment
- Ben
  
  Jun 1, 2013 at 2:47 pm
  
  I believe the “T” on the back left black bomb is a Cameron Circle T. Probably put it in as a place filler so it wasn’t left blank.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - GolfWRX
    
    Jun 1, 2013 at 8:07 pm
    
    I think so to. We will see.
    
    Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

5 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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