News
Phil Mickelson re-signs with Callaway through end of playing career
Phil Mickelson will be a Callaway man until he retires from competitive golf, the Carlsbad-based company announced today.
The terms of the 47-year-old’s deal were not released.
Mickelson, who joined Callaway from Titleist in 2004, will continue to play a full bag of Callaway clubs for the remainder of his career. He won four of his five major championships while playing the company’s equipment.
“Phil has meant so much to Callaway and to the game of golf,” said Callaway Golf President and CEO, Chip Brewer. “He is a dynamic athlete and an iconic ambassador. We are excited to continue our relationship with him for years to come.”
“Our long association has been hugely important to my career and this extended agreement is a great honor,” said Mickelson. “We’ve enjoyed close personal and working relationships for 13 years and I’m very grateful that it will continue through my playing days and beyond.”
Mickelson’s bag includes a Callaway Great Big Bertha Sub-Zero Driver, Great Big Bertha Epic Fairway Woods, prototype irons, an Odyssey Putter, and a Chrome Soft X Ball.
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News
Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos
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News
Four books for a springtime review
One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.
There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.
Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.
Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.
My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.
Decision: Buy It!
The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor
Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.
Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.
My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.
Decision: Buy It!!
Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal
Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.
One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.
Decision: Buy It!!!
Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie
Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.
Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.
My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.
Decision: Buy Them!!!!
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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cgasucks
Sep 30, 2017 at 4:29 pm
I bet on a per year basis, he’s not getting paid as much as did as he was in his prime. He’s on the tail end of his career.
Jacked_Loft
Sep 30, 2017 at 9:51 am
A contract untill he ends his career? I hope he uses his lifetime exemption for the Masters till hes at least 80.
Mower
Sep 28, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Awww, I though he was going back to Yonex. /s
Beggroll
Sep 29, 2017 at 12:03 am
Yonex never really wanted him to stay. They wouldnt open the vault for the money grubber.
joe
Sep 28, 2017 at 3:18 pm
A look inside Mickelson’s bag: British Open win
Ball: Callaway HEX Chrome + prototype
3-wood: Callaway X Hot 3Deep (Mitsubishi Fubuki K 70X), 13 degrees
Hybrid: Ping Anser, 17 degrees
Irons (4-PW): Callaway X Forged
Wedges: Callaway Jaws (52, 56 degrees); Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (60, 64 degrees)
Putter: Odyssey Versa #9
bbdumdum
Sep 28, 2017 at 3:04 pm
He is already at the end of his playing career
Sam
Sep 27, 2017 at 2:00 pm
It’s a match made in heaven
Boss
Sep 27, 2017 at 2:48 am
He’s gonna be the winningest player in Senior Tour history by beating Langer’s record to shreds
mlecuni
Sep 27, 2017 at 4:14 am
Langer’s record*
* note: This player used a putter more than 40″ long to establish this record.
Jon
Sep 27, 2017 at 10:22 am
So?
mlecuni
Sep 28, 2017 at 4:25 am
So the record isn’t legit.
Tim
Sep 28, 2017 at 2:57 pm
Get out of here.
RMF
Sep 28, 2017 at 5:31 pm
A legendary Golfer who won numerous tournament playing within the rules of the game
rex235
Sep 27, 2017 at 12:21 am
As long as you can get what Phil’s using from Callaway.
What? LH Blade irons? Callaway? Prototypes.
“Such a “tiny” market.”
Didn’t Phil win the British Open with a PING club in his bag too?
OB
Sep 26, 2017 at 11:00 pm
Phil is just a walking talking advertisement for Callaway… nothing more.
Beggroll
Sep 29, 2017 at 12:05 am
isnt that why they pay an endorsment contract???
Caroline
Sep 26, 2017 at 6:22 pm
Phil going to give Callaway a chance to build a driver even you can hit a fairway with…good luck…