Equipment

Rory switches to Nike Vapor irons at Dunhill Links Championship

Published

10 years ago

Oct 2, 2014

A week after putting Nike’s new Vapor Pro driver in play at the Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy looks to be going all in with the new Nike line he helped launch in New York City during the FedEx Cup playoffs.

That’s right, the world No. 1 was spotted with a bag full of Nike Vapor Pro irons during the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

See our full breakdown of the Nike 2015 equipment line here.

It’s no surprise Rory decided to go with the Vapor Pro driver in competition, given statements like these:

“The first thing I noticed when I hit this driver was how hot it was. Then, I found that I could really control the flight and work it both ways on the golf course. I saw added ball speed on the monitor and am getting 10-15 yards more distance on the golf course this week.”

And perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that McIlroy has gone so quickly to the Vapor Pro irons. After all, he won’t really have an off-season to speak of given his international schedule over the next few months, as he’s reported to have been practicing with clubs for months.

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34 Comments

Teaj

Oct 13, 2014 at 9:48 am

the black on the back is that an insert or black paint?

Reply Report comment
christian

Oct 4, 2014 at 8:31 pm

So I fully expect that Rory’s driving statistics for this season will show a 15 yards increase then..Or?

Reply Report comment
- JOEL GOODMAN
  
  Oct 8, 2014 at 8:10 pm
  
  does anyone really care? he could play with my wilson Staff irons from 1960 and still be world # 1/ Nike makes crap and always will, that’s why they have to pay these guys millions to play their junk.
  
  Reply Report comment
moses

Oct 4, 2014 at 10:30 am

Looks like it too 1 round to get used to them. 😀
He is lighting it up. Sat round -8 after 13 holes.

Reply Report comment
Mike

Oct 4, 2014 at 9:48 am

This isn’t rocket science folks. Rory switched because he and Tiger came out and publicly endorsed the new sticks…he’s kind of obligated to play it…my question to this board is how soon will TW switch? Never mind, it just hit me that his new bag matches the color scheme of the new Vapors. When he tees it up at his World Challenge in Dec the new sticks will be in the bag.

Reply Report comment
max

Oct 2, 2014 at 8:55 pm

No better marketing machine than paying the #1 player big dough to toot the horns of your product.

Reply Report comment
- bradford
  
  Oct 3, 2014 at 7:31 am
  
  Money is in fact the bottom line, but do you think the #1 would take the deal if the equipment weren’t worth it? Is the #1 SOOO much better than the rest that he could beat them with a piece of junk?
  
  Taylormade floods the market, Titleist sells to the Holier than thou crowd, Nike pays athletes.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - JH
    
    Oct 3, 2014 at 2:10 pm
    
    Titleist does what? You sound really dumb saying that.
    
    TaylorMade pays more guys to play their stuff than any other company.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Baka
      
      Oct 4, 2014 at 12:35 pm
      
      No, JH, he’s exactly right. All of the Titleist people are like apple customers. Entitleist typically a year late on tech and often borrow ideas from companies that are will to put themselves out there. (TMag, Nike, and Callaway)
      
      Reply Report comment
    - mgm
      
      Oct 6, 2014 at 3:16 pm
      
      Titleist pays the most players to use their stuff: don’t forget they are primarily a ball manufacturer, the clubs are an afterthought. Easiest contract to sign is the titleist/footjoy deal. Why do you think its the “number one ball one tour.”
      
      Reply Report comment
  - MHendon
    
    Oct 3, 2014 at 3:11 pm
    
    20 million, yeah I think he would have taken the deal even if the equipment was crap. That is if know one else was offering him anything close. However of course the equipment is good, every manufactures equipment is.
    
    Reply Report comment
littledreamer

Oct 2, 2014 at 7:30 pm

Am I the only one that finds these UGLY?
Used to play 690.MB’s.
Tried all year to like Pro Combos.
Back to 690.mb’s.

Nike has lost me. UGLY!

Reply Report comment
Ethan

Oct 2, 2014 at 6:15 pm

I also noticed that rory switched shafts in his driver. He is playing the new Diamana.

Reply Report comment
- Jeff
  
  Oct 4, 2014 at 1:33 am
  
  Yeah no kiddin maybe that’s where the 8 yards came from
  
  Reply Report comment
  - christian
    
    Oct 4, 2014 at 8:27 pm
    
    15 yards
    
    Reply Report comment
JR

Oct 2, 2014 at 6:08 pm

He’s gonna use the John Riley’s? Awesome!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sop=1&_nkw=john+riley+golf+clubs&LH_PrefLoc=2

Reply Report comment
- MHendon
  
  Oct 3, 2014 at 3:02 pm
  
  Wow been playing for 20 years never heard of or seen those but there is definitely some similarity. What’s old is new again!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Finchley
    
    Oct 4, 2014 at 11:12 am
    
    Not some, but definite rip off.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Wedgie
    
    Oct 4, 2014 at 8:58 pm
    
    MHendon,
    Wait till you see the new Nike wedges. They look identical to the Rileys.
    
    Reply Report comment
Chace

Oct 2, 2014 at 4:42 pm

Does anyone feel the same way, all the Victory Red clubs represent Tiger, and his old dominant era in Nike. Now Rory seems took over that THRONE last year, and Vapor came in just in time. No wonder why he switch so fast to this line, and we may see a lot of fluorescence yellow in his apparels next year too.

Reply Report comment
- Nick
  
  Oct 2, 2014 at 10:30 pm
  
  The “Volt” will be used as a universal colour story across all Nike’s brands. First time ever. You will be seeing that yellow a lot.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Martin de Porres
    
    Oct 5, 2014 at 2:35 am
    
    My old Sasquatch Tour was yellow, as was most Nike’s line.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Zak
  
  Oct 3, 2014 at 12:05 am
  
  Tiger designed the new Vapor Pro irons (they were designed for him from his input and tweeks). They are keeping the cavity back technology in the drivers, but added the compression channel, for Tiger (he loved his old VR Tour driver).
  
  The changes are all for Tiger, not Rory. Tiger is Nike golf. Rory is great right now, but Tiger is still “IT”. Either way, Nike a Golf is in a great situation. I’m loving the Vapor Pro driver. It will be tested ASAP. Same with the Pro irons.
  
  Reply Report comment
Scooter McGavin

Oct 2, 2014 at 12:42 pm

I don’t see why this would be surprising or unexpected. I hit the Vapor Pro Combo irons and they feel great, so I can only imagine these are great too. That, and if I was getting paid $20 million a year, I’d play with whatever I was told.

Reply Report comment
moses

Oct 2, 2014 at 10:46 am

2015 another year of adjustments due to new equipment.
2016 another breakout year after getting used to new equipment.

One thing about Tiger is that he rarely switched equipment.

Reply Report comment
- Joel
  
  Oct 2, 2014 at 12:22 pm
  
  So by this logic you don’t think Rory will change what’s in his bag for the 2016 season?
  
  Reply Report comment
- MHendon
  
  Oct 2, 2014 at 4:47 pm
  
  I suspect getting use to the ball was the bigger adjustment for Rory not the equipment and I think he’s sticking with the same ball.
  
  Reply Report comment
- cody
  
  Oct 3, 2014 at 10:12 am
  
  I dont know where this idea that tiger “RARELY” changes equipment comes from. He has switch equipment as much as anyone else out there. I would go through and list all the changes but a simple google interweb search will show you everything you need.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Chris
    
    Oct 3, 2014 at 12:29 pm
    
    I’m going to respectfully disagree. While yes, he may change the actual equipment, the style/shape/design seems to remain the same so the change isn’t that drastic. Hell he was still hitting a 975D with a TT x100 shaft even in 2006
    
    Reply Report comment
Josh

Oct 2, 2014 at 10:35 am

I have a feeling 2015 is going to be a huge year for Nike Golf.

Reply Report comment
- TW
  
  Oct 2, 2014 at 10:55 am
  
  agreed, ive been a callaway guy for a while but im done with them. On deck…….Titleist/Nike
  
  Reply Report comment
  - adolfo
    
    Oct 2, 2014 at 1:03 pm
    
    I agree too. It wouldn’t surprise me in Nike picks up a few more players going into the new year. It wont shock me if TW plays the new irons next yr.
    
    Personally, Im looking forward to trying out that Vapor Driver. Im definitely curious to see what it can do
    
    Reply Report comment
    - MHendon
      
      Oct 3, 2014 at 3:07 pm
      
      They’ll pick up a few more players if they pay a few more players. Same as every other manufacturer.
      
      Reply Report comment
  - adolfo
    
    Oct 2, 2014 at 1:21 pm
    
    Josh – may want to try out some Mizunos too.
    
    Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

2 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

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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