Tour News
Jason Day makes shocking equipment change, shoots 61 anyway
How much does Jason Day like the new TaylorMade M1 driver? He’s willing to put $10 million on it.
On Thursday, Day put himself in position to shoot a 59 during Round 1 of the BMW Championship. He needed to hole his approach shot on No. 9 (his 18th hole) for eagle, but a weather delay struck and he had to sleep on it until Friday morning. While he didn’t hole the shot, he finished with a par and a first-round 61 to take an early four-shot lead.
While a #59watch is always entertaining, it was Day’s pre-round decision that was most mind-blowing, and at the time, questionable.
Last week, TaylorMade launched its M1 driver (read more about the driver here). Despite Day’s FedExCup Points lead — and prime position to pocket the $10 million prize — he decided to put the new driver in play with only two tournaments left in The Playoffs.
Day has won three of his last five starts, including the PGA Championship, and is unquestionably playing the best golf of his life. While much of his fine play of late can obviously be attributed to his putter (watch how Jason Day’s putter was made), it all starts with the driver for Day, who has third best average driving distance on the PGA Tour at 314.6 yards.
But when something is performing better, you put it in play, right?
Jason Day – M1ghty long. #UnMetalwood pic.twitter.com/SIHLU9hJu6
— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) September 16, 2015
Day wasn’t the only golfer to make the switch to the M1, as it became the No. 1 driver played on Tour at the week’s BMW Championship the European Tour’s Open D’Italia.
Here’s a list of who else switched into the M1 460 at Conway Farms:
- Dustin Johnson (No. 1 on the PGA Tour in driving distance, 319.9 yards)
- Justin Rose
- Sergio Garcia
- Fabian Gomez
- James Hahn
- Brian Harman
- Troy Merritt
- Ryan Palmer
- Brendan Steele
- Shawn Stefani
- Brendon Todd
Here’s who switched into the M1 430:
- Steven Bowditch
- J.B. Holmes
- William McGirt
- Rory Sabbatini
- LIKE304
- LEGIT39
- WOW65
- LOL13
- IDHT6
- FLOP6
- OB6
- SHANK60
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Players Championship
On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.
We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.
Check out our photos below!
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist 2 wood – 2024 The Players Championship
- Cam Young testing Titleist’s new 2-wood – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Hole Nos. 17 and 18 – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Toulon Small Batch Texas putter – 2024 The Players Championship
- Swag Golf custom headcovers – 2024 The Players Championship
- New Ping PLD staff bags – 2024 The Players Championship
- SuperStroke St. Patrick’s Day putter grip – 2024 The Players Championship
- Taylor Montgomery using PuttView X training goggles – 2024 The Players Championship
- LIKE4
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.
We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.
General Albums
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #3
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1 (thanks, bvmagic!)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #3 (bvmagic)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2 (bvmagic)
WITB Albums
- Matt (LFG) Every – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Luke List – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Taylor Moore – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- David Ford – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Pullout Albums
- New Cameron putters (and new “LD” grip) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Bettinardi MB & CB irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Bettinardi API putter cover – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Swag API covers – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New PXG putters – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler putter change – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sepp Straka – shaft change to new Ventus blue – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Rickie Fowler’s new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and Denali shaft (and Radspeed 3-wood) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Justin Rose testing Srixon Z Forged II irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE23
- LEGIT6
- WOW1
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Cognizant Classic —FKA the Honda Classic.
The first leg of the PGA Tour’s traditional “Florida swing,” the Cognizant Classic continues to be contested at PGA National’s Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, host course of the 1983 Ryder Cup and 1987 PGA Championship. The course is known for its famed “Bear Trap,” a three-hole stretch of holes that take their name from Jack “The Golden Bear” Nicklaus, who redesigned the course in 2002.
The Bear Trap includes No. 15 (a par 3), No. 16 (a par 4), and No. 17 (a par 4). All three holes involve water and have led to several big numbers from Tour players over the years.
Check out an assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums below.
We’ll continue to update the galleries as more photos flow in from Florida!
General Albums
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #3
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Monday #4
- 2024 Cognizant Classic – Tuesday #1
WITB Albums
- Brandt Snedeker – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Max Greyserman – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Eric Cole – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Carl Yuan – WITb – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Russell Henley – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Justin Suh – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Alex Noren – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Shane Lowry – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Taylor Montgomery – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Jake Knapp (KnappTime_ltd) – WITB – – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Sam Ryder – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Maverick McNealy – WITB – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Tua Tagovailoa mini WITB (NFL QB, Miami Dolphins) – 2024 Cognizant Classic
Pullout Albums
- New Super Stoke Pistol Lock 1.0 & 2.0 grips – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- LA Golf new insert putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- New Garsen Quad Tour 15 grip – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- New Swag covers – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Jacob Bridgeman’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Bud Cauley’s custom Cameron putters – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Ryo Hisatsune’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Chris Kirk – new black Callaway Apex CB irons and a few Odyssey putters
- Alejandro Tosti’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
- Joohyung Tom Kim’s “new” center-shafted Scotty Cameron putter – 2024 Cognizant Classic
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE10
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
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halensmith
Sep 24, 2018 at 3:12 am
Hi I really appreciate your all efforts which is specially for the golf accessories keep posting.
emp
Oct 1, 2015 at 9:55 am
He lost the FedEx cup at the end. We will have to watch his next season but Luke Donald fell out of the world No. 1 as soon as switched out his R11. I am not saying a driver is better than the other. TM should not have released M1 in the middle of the playoff and shaken their players like this.
Greg V
Sep 25, 2015 at 9:38 am
I have noted that Jason Day hit a ball out of bounds last week at Conway Farms.
Yesterday he hit one out of bounds at East Lake.
He might be hitting the M1 farther, but I wonder if he has lost a bit of control?
Richard
Sep 24, 2015 at 12:37 pm
This is really just a Driver head change.
Allegedly He kept the same shaft meaning:
1) Same shaft tip diameter.
2) Same shaft weight and bend profile.
If the “Full Club” MOI was the same as his old driver, then this switch is easier to make than switching a set of Irons.
jaye
Sep 23, 2015 at 5:55 pm
I think everyone needs to calm down a bit its just a new driver. if Jason and the other TM Staffers are seeing a gain in there numbers why wouldn’t the put it in play. the R15 was on the market for around 13 months so these TM hatters need to get there facts straight before they start running there mouths.
I’ve hit the M1 it feels great, sounds great and spins less around 500 rpm less in my case but i do spin it too much. I am by no means a TM fan boy most of my bag is Titleist i just use what works for me
MSLK
Sep 23, 2015 at 3:36 pm
wow that is so SHOCKING!!
Kobe
Sep 20, 2015 at 11:32 am
All OEM equipment is crap, period. Until you’ve hit JDM gear, you don’t know good. Eat that!
graymulligan
Sep 28, 2015 at 10:53 am
Meanwhile, a guy in Japan posts on a forum telling his buddies that this domestic crap is awful, and everyone should start playing USDM gear.
Lowell
Sep 19, 2015 at 12:01 pm
I’m gonna get me one. Oh ya!!!!!
Brian T
Sep 18, 2015 at 9:15 pm
I’m not a big tmag fan but give me a break, there’s no way, no way tmag forced him to switch drivers this late in the season like so many claim. Him winning the fedex cup with any tailor-made driver is huge for them, bigger than risking him putting the M1 in play and losing the cup down the stretch. There’s only 1 reason he put it in the bag, and that would be that it was at a minimum, just a little better than his R15. I guarantee he wasn’t forced to do anything and can ultimately play any driver he wants. He just gets extra money if he plays the driver. And I’m betting it’s nowhere near 10 million to play the driver.
Lar
Sep 18, 2015 at 10:05 pm
Zactly
Jacob
Sep 18, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Well it seems that TM drivers are a lot easier to get used to than Titleist irons.
Lar
Sep 18, 2015 at 10:05 pm
Zactly
Whale
Sep 18, 2015 at 6:12 pm
It just goes to show you the high quality of Taylormade products, that the quality is so consistent and stable that the performance increases without having to change your swing
Philip
Sep 18, 2015 at 8:12 pm
Especially when a manufacturer custom selects/designed the driver specifically for you due to your swing being so consistent that you win professional tournaments.
Lar
Sep 18, 2015 at 10:04 pm
Oh yeah really that’s why Jordan switched back to the 714 AP2 and threw away the 716 lol
Adam
Sep 18, 2015 at 5:23 pm
When Sneds changes then you know its a great driver.
It has been said a million times, what works for some may not work for others.
I’m hitting the longest drives of my life with the 815 DBD with B series diamana.
TM
Sep 18, 2015 at 3:49 pm
Is this a ad for a floundering Golf company that is FOR SALE??? Give me a break….every 2 months a club that is longer and straighter than the one before…..shocking bs.
Whale
Sep 18, 2015 at 6:14 pm
Better than that cr@p 915 stuff Titty made that doesn’t fly and I see loads of them returned on the shelf at my local golf shop but there’s hardly any TM drivers
scott
Sep 19, 2015 at 7:57 am
floundering…..really dude. they are “floundering” relative to high expectations set based on past results. convince me they have lost MARKET SHARE and there is a discussion to be had, but “floundering” – no way.
p.s. – being “for sale” only indicates the owner wants to invest elsewhere (like in making “Yeezy” sneakers). Every company that is “for sale” is not “floundering” – otherwise, a transaction would never get one.
HKR
Oct 12, 2015 at 8:23 am
Tried the M1, Callaway XR and the Cobra Fly-Z BECAUSE my 915 would not travel and huge distance loss. All three were longer. M1 was third. Each to their own but I am disappointed with the 915 with the Rogue shaft. A bad buy for me.
Golfraven
Sep 18, 2015 at 2:41 pm
Don’t know how much TMAG paid Jason to say that stuff about his new driver in the furst round interview. That was purely scripted and contrived Pure marketing BS. again, it is his ball striking and not the driver entirely otherwise all the guys with the new M1 in bag would perform outstandly over the other staff players.
B-man
Sep 18, 2015 at 2:32 pm
Agreed. Shocking!
madgolfer
Sep 18, 2015 at 2:16 pm
I agree, why all this hate, I play the R15 and it is really good, tried the Callaway Alpha with the gravity core, I absolutely hate it(I used to hit the old geatest big bertha great) but the new one is rubbish to me.
So, each to their own, I it works go for it if it does not switch like I did to R15.
I also tried the cobra fly-z+ which a lot of people raves about but it did not work for me, lost 20 yards relative to the R15.
So, if the M1 works why not, stop hating and start using what ever works for you 🙂
Jack
Sep 21, 2015 at 11:57 pm
Seriously there are no bad drivers out there. Modern tech pretty much prevents that from happening.
TY
Sep 18, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Golfwrx’s headlines getting more and more click bait like?
dc1
Sep 18, 2015 at 12:41 pm
He’s playing so well right now he could hit a shovel 310 down the middle!
Golfraven
Sep 18, 2015 at 2:45 pm
I agree! Dive him any brand or technology with the right shaft and you will not see significant difference.
Nick
Sep 18, 2015 at 12:33 pm
I don’t get what all the fuss is about. It’s a switch from an R15 to an M1….they’re not THAT different. It’s not like someone is playing a G30 and then switches to a Nike or something completely different. It’s just the next incremental iteration of the same club.
Shakers97
Sep 18, 2015 at 12:16 pm
I hit the new M1 yesterday. I drove the ball 4 1/2 miles. This morning I woke up and I was 20 pounds lighter, a foot taller and 10 years younger. My wife has turned into a model and my kids now all have straight A’s. But I’m not going to buy it. I don’t really like the shape and nobody on the PGA tour has won with it yet. I don’t want to waste my money until I’m sure.
Teaj
Sep 18, 2015 at 1:04 pm
yours too?
joe
Sep 18, 2015 at 12:15 pm
To the TM haters: what club manufacturer is most prominent in your bag? If it’s Callaway, you’ll find a more accelerated product release cycle than TM. You will also find ads that make wild distance claims. In other words, you will find all of the things you claim to hate TM for. Why does Callaway get a pass?
Kt
Sep 18, 2015 at 12:27 pm
PING.
Christestrogen
Sep 18, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Srixon here
Steve
Sep 18, 2015 at 1:43 pm
The Hammer
Track Man
Sep 19, 2015 at 10:03 am
yes
Jon
Sep 18, 2015 at 2:03 pm
The Kmart blue light specials?
cgasucks
Sep 18, 2015 at 2:10 pm
Tommy Armour
Golfraven
Sep 18, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Titleist & Ping – hate it when I have to wait two years for a new model but then again I can play the mode I have in the bag for couple if years and still sell it for a good $.
Brian
Sep 18, 2015 at 4:46 pm
KickX Parking Garage (or whatever they call it)
DolphLundrenade
Sep 22, 2015 at 1:24 pm
Orlimar Fireline complete set – On sale & includes the putter.
Big Mike
Sep 18, 2015 at 11:58 am
They get paid to switch. and what better way to create a viral buzz than have players make the switch now and get it out on sites like WRX. Not saying it won’t be an improvement or great stick but am saying TM is a marketing machine that makes excellent equipment
ron
Sep 18, 2015 at 11:50 am
I hit the M1 460 yesterday with the Speeder Pro 60 shaft…. Impressive!!
Joe
Sep 18, 2015 at 11:46 am
I’m a 25 handicap. I bought new TM equipment and shot 68.
Golfraven
Sep 18, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Where – on your par 60 Muni?
Sean
Oct 7, 2015 at 11:26 pm
Probably meant 9 holes ????
Whale
Sep 18, 2015 at 4:34 pm
I guess you like a 600 pound whale
Archie Bunker
Sep 18, 2015 at 11:29 am
Pros who switch like this are paid salesmen. They sell the new product, even though it is carefully tweaked to make them happy. Often, it is not much different than what they’ve used previously. The product you buy off the shelf is produced for the masses, with a hefty profit built in to help pay for the PGA Tour salespersons. And like Gillette with its’ steady introduction of new and improved razor blades, I would guess that TM doesn’t introduce a new product until they have their successor already in production. Ready for the M-1 Burner anyone?
Christestrogen
Sep 18, 2015 at 1:29 pm
No offense but the Gillette powered Mach 5 was/is life changing….u are comparing apples and trampolines dude
cgasucks
Sep 18, 2015 at 2:11 pm
Try an old school safety razor…it changed my life after spending $$$ on Mach 5 cartridges..
JMcDonough
Sep 18, 2015 at 2:24 pm
It’s like going from SGI to Forged CB’s. #nevergoingback
Teaj
Sep 18, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Hmmm the Burning M
the M Arrow
Chuck
Sep 18, 2015 at 11:21 am
Interesting to see Ryan Palmer switch, after so many years with a Burner Superfast in the bag. Palmer’s bag — as a TM staffer — is really unusual.
http://www.golfwrx.com/267111/ryan-palmer-witb-2015/
Chuck
Sep 18, 2015 at 11:18 am
Ryan Palmer switching is an interesting factoid. Because he was one of those guys who kept a VERY old Burner Superfast in the bag as his old faithful driver, along with some other quirky choices. He only has about five TM clubs (driver, RBZ 3w, R15 5w, and the old TM wedges with interchangeable faces) along with some Titleist irons, a FourteeN driving iron, and an Odyssey putter. Still, he’s a staffer, right? With a cap- and bag- logo deal, right?
mo
Sep 18, 2015 at 11:15 am
OMG look at the launch numbers. 333 carry 13.6 launch 1700 spin. I absolutely love my R15 and the M1 will be a nice transition.
Whale
Sep 18, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Yeah you know all about them trannies, don’t you Smizzle they’re your faves
Philip
Sep 18, 2015 at 11:00 am
Not shocking at all if there really isn’t much difference between the drivers anymore (other than gimmicks or more ability to adjust) and Jason has most certainly been testing one to get it perfect, besides the one he put in play is definitely of a higher precision level than the average stock sold to the average golfer.
Leon
Sep 18, 2015 at 10:26 am
That doesn’t M1 is a better driver.
He switched to it because (1) His sponsor required him to do so. (2) He already tested it months before the release and every specification is met for his swing. (3) There is no different between M1 and his previous driver (R15), except the cosmetics. So, why not?
More importantly, TM desperately needs to boost their driver sales, and playoff is a good stage for the marketing. Success or fail, TM doesn’t have many cards in hands.
ooffa
Sep 18, 2015 at 10:53 am
Perfect comment. Everything you said is true. Nothing shocking at all. Clickbait headline. A GolfWRX trademark move.
Chuck
Sep 18, 2015 at 11:11 am
I like the comment; appropriately thought-provoking. But I’m curious how TaylorMade “requires” a change. Is it in a contract? Is it a matter of good will; that is, TMaG makes it known to Day that they want him to feature it, and he likes getting tons of money from TMaG, so he does it even if there isn’t contract language to require it? What does that contract language look like? (It could be fascinating; we all understand the notion of playing products produced by “your” manufacturer, and we have all heard of 12-, 13- and 14-club deals. But what about specifying models in a contract?) Not every TM staffer switched. And I expect that some might never put an M1 in play, even while they play a different TMaG driver and remain on staff. I wish I knew how much Day gets from TMaG. I don’t even have a guess. Is it $500k? Or is it ten times that amount? Somebody must know; TMaG has fifty guys under similar contracts. It can’t be such a secret.
And it is a very good point that the rollout week for a big product probably comes after every player has gone through the usual process; they are given protos to try out. The tour staff goes away with the player’s comments, and returns with two dozen carefully-spec’ed identical clubs for the player to choose from.
Still, every tour player will tell you that every club is different. And there is that confidence factor. There is simply nothing like that exact club that you have just won a major with. In the end, these players — many of them in their twenties — are still golfers. And if given a chance to hit a driver that they think will go farther, or straighter, or be more workable, or sound better… well they are a lot like the rest of us recreational players, right?
DatSliceDoe
Sep 18, 2015 at 11:14 am
yep, this guy gets it!
Scooter McGavin
Sep 18, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Meh… maybe half true. 1) yes, it may be part of his contract to play the most recent woods, but Taylormade isn’t going to force him to change in the middle of the FedEx Cup playoff if he isnt ready. They would rather see him win with an R15 than lose with an M1. 2) yes. 3) that’s an overt hyperbole. While it might be true to the average Joe golfer like you or me, these pros will certainly notice even the most subtle differences between clubs. And for the last part about success or fail, see #1.
Andrew
Sep 18, 2015 at 10:21 am
Check your photos of the event and Breden Todd has an M1 cover on an R1 driver…hardly call that switching??
I’ll happily be proved wrong and before anybody asks I’m keen to try the driver when it’s available in the UK
Kt
Sep 18, 2015 at 10:19 am
When you come out with the exact same clubs every year, I could understand how it was such a simple switch.
KD
Sep 18, 2015 at 10:10 am
Small detail missing, how much $$$ did they receive to play the new driver?
Flow
Sep 18, 2015 at 10:46 am
Not $10 Million
ALEX
Sep 18, 2015 at 10:58 am
KD…Flow just burned you, TM haters are hilarious