Equipment
2014 Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters Photos
GolfWRX is live from the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters at the Southern Highlands Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nev. The UNLV Rebels host a field of 15 teams at the 7510-yard par-72 course from Friday-to-Sunday for the 54-hole event. The tournament includes seven of the top-10 ranked teams in college golf, making it one of the strongest fields in college golf.
Alabama, ranked No. 1 by Golfweek, comes to Las Vegas as the favorite with the No. 1 ranked individual golfer in the NCAA, senior Trey Mullinax. They were handed their first loss in 11-events at the SMU Querencia Cabo Collegiate by just one stroke to Houston on March 4.
Defending champion Patrick Rodgers, a junior from Stanford, makes his return this week as the No. 11-ranked college golfer according to Golfweek. At last year’s Collegeiate Masters, Rodgers won in a playoff over former California graduate Michael Kim, New Mexico graduate James Erckenbeck and Alabama’s Cory Whitsett.
Nine of the top 10 ranked individuals are in the field this weekend, making a title defense difficult for Rodgers.
Cal (No. 4) will look to defend their team title at the event against the 15-team field that includes Alabama (No. 1), Georgia Tech (No. 2), Oklahoma State (No. 3), Georgia (No. 5), Texas A&M (No. 7), Stanford (No. 9), Oklahoma (No. 14), Texas (No. 16), New Mexico (No. 18), UCLA (No. 19), Arizona State (No. 29), UNLV (No. 33), TCU (No. 42), Texas Tech (No. 49).
Check out the photos we took from the Collegiate Masters in Las Vegas.
Thursday
2014 Collegiate Masters: Thurs. Pt. 1
2014 Collegiate Masters: Thurs. Pt. 2
2014 Collegiate Masters: Thurs. Pt. 3
2014 Collegiate Masters: Thurs. Pt. 4
2014 Collegiate Masters: Thurs. Pt. 5
2014 Collegiate Masters: Thurs. Pt. 6
Friday
2014 Collegiate Masters: Fri. Pt. 1
2014 Collegiate Masters: Fri. Pt. 2
2014 Collegiate Masters: Fri. Pt. 3
2014 Collegiate Masters: Fri. Pt. 4
2014 Collegiate Masters: Fri. Pt. 5
Saturday
2014 Collegiate Masters: Sat. Pt. 1
2014 Collegiate Masters: Sat. Pt. 2
Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about the photos in the discussion thread
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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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Rich
May 6, 2014 at 6:35 pm
Mostly Nike, Ping and Titleist in the bags there with a sprinkling of the others. Do a majority of these guys pick and pay for their own gear? If they do, kind of tells you who makes the best clubs instead of relying on the marketing dollar to give them the highest equipment counts.
Rana
Sep 29, 2014 at 9:46 am
Nice first episode. I like the idea and what you guys are trynig to do. Hopefully local athletes will see that this could benefit them not only from learning from you guys but just getting the exposure. That could be huge.I thought the first episode was good. Like I told Adam, I appreciate the brutal honesty. Some people can’t take it but its what makes you a better person or athlete. Anything I can do to help, just say the word.
Esma
Oct 1, 2014 at 9:07 am
()We also have a eGroup mailing list once you have ddeceid to join the club please let me know if you would like to join that group it’s mainly used for pool announcements (ie bank holidays when the pool is closed) organising galas, lost property, and very importantly social events!BestCarolinePS If you come to swim on a Thursday night please think twice about bringing a bicycle there has been a lot of bike theft from outside the pool from local youths! If you do, make sure you bring two locks with you.
Dan
Mar 9, 2014 at 8:58 am
2 things
1. Wow college golf has changed, free clubs, color coordinated shoes, circle t’s
2. That course must be extremely difficult after seeing the 1st round scores
Greg
Mar 9, 2014 at 11:16 am
wind blew hard for the 1st round, greens dried out a bit, so got faster and lots of rough.
Great Pics
Mar 7, 2014 at 11:23 am
Some of these little punks have Circle T’s WTH?? I like the college pics more than the pro pics