Equipment
Spotted: New Callaway Apex MB Irons
GolfWRX spotted a new set of Callaway Apex MB irons at the CareerBuilder Challenge on Tuesday, where they were being tested by Callaway Staffer Patrick Reed.
Callaway currently sells a set of Apex MB (muscleback) irons, released in late 2014, but the new irons are noticeably different. They have a chrome finish and a streamlined muscle pad, which gives them a more traditional look than the original Apex MB irons.
Old vs. New
According to our boots on the ground, Reed tested the new irons only briefly, hitting the 6 iron and pitching wedge on the range. It’s not clear if he plans further testing of the irons.
See Photos from the Tour of the Apex MB in raw finish
At Address
In last week’s BMW South Africa Open Championship on the European Tour, Rory McIlroy used a set of Callaway Apex MB irons that looked similar to the new irons.
Rory’s Callaway Apex MB irons
It’s unclear if Rory’s irons are an initial prototype of the new model, or customized to his specific needs.
See MORE PHOTOS and what GolfWRX Members are saying about the new irons in our forum.
See Photos from the Tour of the Apex MB in raw finish
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
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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Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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Chuckle Barkley
Mar 23, 2019 at 6:52 pm
*Travis…….Dude, that observation is priceless. On the floor crackin’ up!! Great stuff!!
Sheen
Mar 24, 2018 at 11:14 am
It is exactly same look of MP 69 except 4D concept.
Travis
Jun 13, 2017 at 3:24 pm
HEY!!! That’s a design ripoff of that one company who ripped off that other company who took their design from that one company who copied that other person who’s club looked really similar to that other one!! Unbelievable Callaway…
BWild
Mar 21, 2017 at 2:08 pm
They are the same design as the titelist 660’s take look…
Barry
Jan 23, 2017 at 10:01 am
Agreed. Does the groove spacing have any impact on spin rate?
Mr Poopoo
Jan 21, 2017 at 1:25 pm
The Mizuno MP-14/29 muscle design never gets old…
Joey
Feb 4, 2017 at 10:56 am
As if they’re the first ones to have that design.
Henny Bogan
Feb 16, 2017 at 12:24 pm
I believe the Hogan Precision (1953 or 1955) were the first to have the “Mizuno MP 14 or 29” muscle design.
CarlLIKESitintheASS
May 15, 2017 at 4:24 am
It’s all about the Ping Eye 2.
westphi
Jan 19, 2017 at 12:11 pm
Simple and clean is always sexy. If they have good turf interaction and a soft buttery feel, I would game them!
Mark
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:52 am
It’s a blade. T
MP-4
Jan 18, 2017 at 11:21 pm
The satin finish looks much better.
MP-29
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:33 am
No, it does not.
Bob Pegram
Jan 21, 2017 at 2:34 pm
It does when you put your club down behind the ball and the angle causes you to get a face full of reflected sunlight. The satin finish doesn’t do that.
Satin is Better
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Yes, it does.
golfraven
Jan 18, 2017 at 4:20 pm
What Rory played in SA was likely a proto set of MBs he got as a farewell present from Titleist before jumping to Nike. They probably said he can stamp it with whatever he likes even their compeitors name. Three years later here we are. Why else are Callys new Epic woods so similar in looks to Titleist’s 915 line – probably also protos from them.
Progolfer
Jan 18, 2017 at 8:28 pm
Sounds like you have it all figured out…
mhendon
Jan 18, 2017 at 11:48 pm
You don’t seriously believe that?
Ryan
Jan 19, 2017 at 5:55 am
And titlest would do this because….
Scott
Jan 18, 2017 at 4:02 pm
I would try them compared to titleist mb which they now look exactly alike. That was one of the nice things about the “old” apex mb. The look. These do. Itching for me but I’ll wait, see, compare numbers
Max
Jan 19, 2017 at 12:17 pm
They are blades buddy, your strike will be the only thing changing the numbers by a noticeable amount.
Mr. Callaway..
Jan 18, 2017 at 2:13 pm
we have Titleist 916 MB on line 1 for you
Brian
Jan 18, 2017 at 7:17 pm
And the Mizuno MP 69 on line 2.
tlmck
Jan 19, 2017 at 5:23 am
And 80’s Wilson Staff
chinchbugs
Jan 18, 2017 at 2:00 pm
dems purty