Equipment
Tiger Woods puts a new grip on the “Elder Wand”
Yes, it’s just a putter grip, but hey, it’s Tiger—and the most famous putter in the world.
We spotted TW at Winged Foot this morning with a fresh (but super old) Lamkin Deep Etched Pistol grip to replace his trusty Ping Blackout, which he has played for the majority of his professional tenure (although Woods has opted for the non-blacked-out version in recent years).
Users on social media cited Woods using the grip in combination with an Odyssey Dual Force 660 putter while at Stanford and early in his career. Interestingly, while we’re used to seeing a Blackout grip in Woods’ hands, he used multiple cord and etched grips in his pre-Elder Wand days.
As our Gianni Magliocco pointed out earlier this month, the world No. 21 is in the midst of the worst putting stretch of his career.
Woods tried a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Timeless Prototype at the PGA Championship, but ultimately that experiment was short-lived.
Woods plays Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord grips on his woods and irons.
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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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The Hammer
Sep 20, 2020 at 8:29 pm
We call his putter Excalibur.
BigG
Sep 16, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Do you guys ever stop with this garbage. What next?
Tiger is eating a sandwich.
Tiger is tying his shoes.
Tiger is taking a crap.
Tiger is taping his finger.
Give it a rest.
John Wunder
Sep 16, 2020 at 10:18 pm
I think its fun. The guy doesn’t move the needle, he is the needle. If the guy changes shoe laces people care. You may not which is fine but if a poll was taken, I would bet money that anything the guy does is interesting to most.
gwelfgulfer
Sep 29, 2020 at 1:00 am
No John, if Tiger changed his shoe laces, no one other than the wrx ‘writers’ would care…
The Dude-Dudeness
Oct 3, 2020 at 9:38 pm
Hey when can hear about how and with who he cheated on his wife?
Or driving under the influence?
He was the greatest jerk of all time until this,
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/tiger-woods-dui-arrest-golfer-had-five-drugs-system-toxicology-n792856
DB
Sep 16, 2020 at 8:24 am
Main change here is the weight. PING is 58 grams, the Lamkin Deep Etch cord is usually 80-85 grams. That makes a big difference, most prefer a heavier putter head with the heavier grip.
Jordan
Sep 15, 2020 at 8:45 pm
He probably should give the greatest putter grip of all time a try: The Scotty Cameron Studio Design
John
Sep 16, 2020 at 8:55 am
LOL
Bobby
Sep 16, 2020 at 2:17 pm
The Pingman Blackout is basically the same exact grip as the studio design, just 2 grams heavier but very little difference between the two!
Gianni's dad
Sep 15, 2020 at 7:03 pm
Give is a few more starts, he’ll be in a super stroke 5.0 and left hand low.
Adult
Sep 15, 2020 at 6:26 pm
Is there anything cornier than calling his putter the “elder wand?”
Chris
Sep 15, 2020 at 7:42 pm
Only your name
Adult
Sep 15, 2020 at 8:32 pm
OK guy who thinks calling a putter “elder wand” is cool
John
Sep 16, 2020 at 8:56 am
What a sad comeback to a great post from chris.
Mike Dropped.
Adult
Sep 16, 2020 at 9:03 am
OK guy who thinks calling a putter “elder wand” is cool
Ryan
Sep 16, 2020 at 10:56 am
guy’s name is Eldrick. It sorta works and, since you asked, you probably cannot come up with anything cornier for his putter. You definitely nailed a cornier comebacks though!
Adult
Sep 16, 2020 at 11:01 am
OK guy who thinks calling a putter “elder wand” is cool
Mike
Sep 16, 2020 at 8:04 pm
Hey!
Funkaholic
Sep 16, 2020 at 8:53 am
You must be a blast at parties.
John Wunder
Sep 16, 2020 at 10:15 pm
Nothing corny about the Elder Wand…. watch Harry Potter, that stick was a world-beater.
Gene Kennedy
Sep 15, 2020 at 6:14 pm
It takes SO long for pro’s to change anything and they have access to Everything! Please, Don’t say superstition, or TW would’ve kept his original SWING~~
Delbert
Sep 15, 2020 at 3:07 pm
There’s feel in them old cords.
stanley
Sep 15, 2020 at 1:13 pm
this is a big change. putter grip isn’t anything to laugh at. i wonder if he is uncomfortable with his putting at this time.
Captain obvious
Sep 15, 2020 at 9:25 pm
You wonder? You wonder? I what gave it away?