Equipment
Enter to Win Phil Mickelson’s U.S. Open Paycheck
Phil Mickelson has finished second in the U.S. Open Championship six times without a victory, but he will have especially passionate support at Pinehurst No. 2 this year as he attempts to win the career Grand Slam.
Callaway Golf, in a promotion called “The Big Bertha Payday,” (#BerthaPayday) is allowing golfers a chance to win the same official dollar amount of Mickelson’s prize winnings at this year’s U.S. Open. Starting today (5/22) and lasting through the final round on June 15, every person living in the United States or Canada that demos a Big Bertha Driver, Big Bertha Alpha Driver, or a Big Bertha Fairway Wood at a participating location will receive a code they can use to enter the contest.
Read our review of the Big Bertha and Big Bertha Alpha drivers here.
That’s it. Just test out Callaway’s newest Big Bertha technology at a local participating golf course or range, and you could win up to $1.5 million, the estimated winnings for first place.
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“A lot of people out there have not had the chance to feel like what a putt for a million dollars feels like,” said Mickelson in a promotional video for The Big Bertha Payday. “Now, even though you’re not the one hitting it, you at home have the chance to feel that same anxiety.”
By entering, you will join Phil in the grind over four-footers, the diabolical greenside shots for which Pinehurst is infamous and the unbearable major championship pressure. The better he plays, the more money you have a chance to win.
Although he missed cuts at The Masters and The Players Championship in 2014, Mickelson’s game sets up well for the Donald Ross designed Pinehurst No. 2, which requires imagination and supreme touch around the greens. In the 1999 U.S. Open at the same venue, Mickelson finished in a tie for second place, losing to a memorably gutsy performance from the late Payne Stewart.
In the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, Mickelson finished T33, earning him $35, 759. With a vested interest, participants will be hoping for a better showing in 2014’s rendition of the championship.
For the sake of one lucky fan, let’s hope Mickelson at least makes the cut. For everyone else, the contest is a great excuse to try out Callaway’s newest drivers and fairway woods.
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Whats in the Bag
WITB Time Machine: Danny Willett’s winning WITB, 2016 Masters
Driver: Callaway XR 16 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 60 X
Length: 45.5 inches
3-wood: Callaway XR 16 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 70X
5-wood: Callaway XR 16 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 80X
Irons: Callaway Apex UT (2, 4), Callaway Apex Pro (5-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Superlite
Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (47-11 S-Grind) Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (54-11, 58-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Superlite
Putter: Odyssey Versa #1 Wide (WBW)
Lie angle: 71 degrees
Ball: Callaway Speed Regime SR-3
Check out more photos of Willett’s equipment from 2016 here.
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Equipment
Project X Denali Blue, Black shaft Review – Club Junkie Review
Originally, Project X was known for low-spin steel iron shafts. However, the company might now be known for wood shafts. Denali is the newest line of graphite shafts from Project X. With the Denali line, the company focuses on feel as well as performance.
There are two profiles in the Denali line, Blue and Black, to fit different launch windows. Denali Blue is the mid-launch and mid-spin profile for players who are looking for a little added launch and Denali Black is designed for low-launch and low-spin. Both models are going to offer you a smooth feel and accuracy.
For a full in-depth review check out the Club Junkie podcast on all podcast streaming platforms and on YouTube.
Project X Denali Blue
I typically fit better into mid-launch shafts, as I don’t hit a very high ball so the Denali Blue was the model I was more excited to try. Out of the box, the shaft looks great and from a distance, it is almost hard to tell the dark blue from the Denali Black. With a logo down install of the shaft, you don’t have anything to distract your eyes, just a clean look with the transition from the white and silver handle section to the dark navy mid and tip.
Out on the course, the Blue offers a very smooth feel that gives you a good kick at impact. The shaft loads easily and you can feel the slightly softer handle section compared to the HZRDUS lineup. This gives the shaft a really good feel of it loading on the transition to the downswing, and as your hands get to impact, the Denali Blue keeps going for a nice, strong kick.
Denali Blue is easy to square up at impact and even turn over to hit it straight or just little draws and most of the flex of the shaft feels like it happens right around where the paint changes from silver to blue. The Blue launches easily and produces what I consider a true mid-flight with the driver. While it is listed as mid-spin, I never noticed any type of rise in my drives. Drives that I didn’t hit perfectly were met with good stability and a ball that stayed online well.
Project X Denali Black
When you hold the Denali Black in your hands you can tell it is a more stout shaft compared to its Blue sibling by just trying to bend it. While the handle feels close to the Blue in terms of stiffness, you can tell the tip is much stiffer when you swing it.
Denali Black definitely takes a little more power to load it but the shaft is still smooth and doesn’t give you any harsh vibrations. Where the Blue kicks hard at impact, the Black holds on a little and feels like keeps you in control even on swings that you try and put a little extra effort into. The stiff tip section also makes it a little harder to square up at impact and for some players could take away a little of the draw from their shot.
Launch is lower and more penetrating compared to the Blue and produces a boring, flat trajectory. Shots into the wind don’t rise or spin up, proving that the spin stays down. Like its mid-launch sibling, the Black is very stable and mishits and keeps the ball on a straighter line. Shots low off the face don’t get very high up in the air, but the low spin properties get the ball out there farther than you would expect. For being such a stout shaft, the feel is very good, and the Denali Black does keep harsh vibrations from your hands.
Overall the Project X Denali Blue and Black are great additions to the line of popular wood shafts. If you are looking for good feel and solid performance the Denali line is worth trying out with your swing. Choose Blue for mid-launch and mid-spin or Black for lower launch and low spin.
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Equipment
What we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons
Bryson DeChambeau fired an opening-round 7-under 65 at Augusta National, hitting an impressive 15 of 18 greens in regulation in the process. Golf’s mad scientist’s play grabbed headlines and so too did his equipment. In place of the Ping i230 irons he had in the bag last week for LIV Golf’s Miami event, DeChambeau is gaming a prototype 5-PW set of irons from little-known direct-to-consumer manufacturer Avoda.
What is Avoda Golf?
Founded by Tom Bailey, also a Mike Schy student like Bryson DeChambeau, Avoda Golf is a direct-to-consumer golf equipment company that currently manufactures both single and variable-length irons in one model that are available for pre-order.
What irons is Bryson DeChambeau playing?
Per multiple reports, DeChambeau is playing a custom-designed set of single-length irons that incorporate bulge and roll into the face design. The two-piece 3D-printed irons were reportedly only approved for play by the USGA this week, according to Golfweek’s Adam Schupak.
Regarding the irons, DeChambeau told Golf Channel the irons’ performance on mishits was the determining factor in putting them in play this week. “When I mishit on the toe or the heel,” DeChambeau said. “It seems to fly a lot straighter for me and that’s what has allowed me to be more comfortable over the ball.”
What can we tell about the design of the clubs?
These days, it is a little hard to speculate on what is under the hood with so many hollow body irons. DeChambeau’s irons look to be hollow on the lower section as they do flare back a decent amount. That “muscle” on the back also looks to be fairly low on the iron head, but we can assume that is progressive through the set, moving up higher in the short irons.
A screw out on the toe is probably used to seal up the hollow cavity and used as a weight to dial in the swing weight of the club. From pictures, it is hard to tell but the sole looks to have a little curve from heel to toe while also having some sharper angles on them. A more boxy and sharper toe section looks to be the design that suits Bryson’s eye based on the irons he has gravitated toward recently.
What are bulge and roll, again?
Two types of curvature in a club face, traditionally incorporated only in wood design. Bulge is heel-toe curvature. Roll is crown-sole curvature. Both design elements are designed to mitigate gear effect on off-center strikes and produce shots that finish closer to the intended target line. (GolfTec has an excellent overview of bulge and roll with some handy GIFs for the visual learner)
What else is in DeChambeau’s bag?
Accompanying his traditional Sik putter, Bryson builds his set with a Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, a Krank Formula Fire driver and 5-wood, and a TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver, all with LA Golf graphite shafts.
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Tom
Jun 26, 2014 at 4:38 pm
Did they ever announce a winner of this contest?
Jane Schrag
Jun 17, 2014 at 1:06 pm
Thanks for a chance of a lifetime
Jane Schrag
Jun 17, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Thanks for chance of a lifetime. God Bless!
Jane Schrag
Jun 17, 2014 at 1:04 pm
Thanks for the chance to Win with You. God Bless
Larry Oliver
Jun 11, 2014 at 4:42 pm
It is your time to complete the Majors (4) slam!! Just go out nad win the US Open!!!
David Gladden
Jun 11, 2014 at 8:02 am
Just win it Phil!
Bill Trivette
Jun 10, 2014 at 10:46 pm
I have been pulling for Phil ever since her came on tour.I hope he wins this year.
Macario Reyes
Jun 7, 2014 at 2:10 pm
go Phil!!!!
jim sigmon
May 29, 2014 at 9:14 pm
pHIL ALL THE LUCK AND MAY GOD BLESS THIS ROUND, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.. I WATCH EVERY ROUND AND TOURNAMENT YOU PLAY IN GOOD LUCK THANKS FOR BEING PHIL MICKELSON
Stephen Gorman
May 25, 2014 at 7:13 pm
We are wishing you all the good fortune you deserve Phil good luck from the Gorman family we will be rooting for you. My little 7 yr old rori beth is a lefty too and loves watching you play.
Walt
May 25, 2014 at 4:12 pm
GO GET UM !
Jane Martin
May 24, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Phil–Big Bertha–green backs to me!!!YEAH
Alan Markle
May 24, 2014 at 1:39 pm
finding where to enter the contest is very difficult.
Doh
May 25, 2014 at 2:58 am
Huh?
http://www.callawaygolf.com/more/the-big-big-bertha-payday-sweepstakes/
Too me 2 seconds
Ron Coningswood
Jun 4, 2014 at 9:08 pm
You are right Alan, it is difficult to find where to sign up!
Tom
May 23, 2014 at 9:04 am
All PGA Tour Superstores are offering up this promotion, demo the Bertha there and register.
Scooter McGavin
May 23, 2014 at 6:46 am
Hm. The debate over winning lots of money or getting to see Phil lose again… I’ll have to think about that.
JOHN HABERLE
May 23, 2014 at 12:54 am
It would be great to see lefty win,I come on 6 times a bridesmaid. It’s is time.
Jeannette Neeld
May 22, 2014 at 8:01 pm
Go Phil it’s your turn