Equipment
Callaway Announces Tour Authentic Line
Ever since Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els put a prototype set of Callaway Blades into play, many in the golf world have been eagerly awaiting word from Callaway for a possible launch date.
The wait is over, since this April Callaway will launch the new X-Prototype irons as part of their new Tour Authentic line. This line consists of equipment straight from the PGA Tour. There are no modifications to accommodate the average player, these are clubs designed for the best players in the world now available to the public. Along with the X-Prototype irons, a new FT-5 T driver, X-Forged Wedges, Tour Milled Putter, and Staff Bags complete the line and offer golfers the chance to play what the pros play.
Discuss your opinion on the Tour Authentic line in our forums!
FT-5 T Driver
The FT-5 driver was a big hit among consumers, the Tour versions were aimed at better players but still some golfers wanted more. The new FT-5 T driver will take them one step further. By incorporating the traditional FT-5 body, Callaway has added the new T hosel which is placed closer to the leading edge and gives the driver a more open look. The driver will also feature a face angle that lies 1.5 degrees open further enhancing the driver’s open appearance and workability. The FT-5 T driver will be available in Draw, Neutral, and Fade Opti-Fit Weight configurations in lofts of 8.5 and 9.5 degrees.
X-Prototype Irons
Once regarded as a strictly game improvement brand, Callaway has made some major roads into the players market with the X-Tour and X-Forged irons. Taking that design one step further, Roger Cleveland has designed the X-Prototype, a forged muscle back with the X-Muscle which provides forgiveness while still allowing for trajectory and shot control. The X-Muscle also features a flighted center of gravity with the highest muscle in the short irons for trajectory control which moves to the lowest in the long irons for high, soft landing shots. The sole grind of the irons is positioned right between the X-Tour which many players felt had too much bounce and the X-Forged which many felt had too little. The X-Prototype should play somewhere between the two in terms of turf interaction. The irons will be made from soft 1020 carbon steel and are forged by the famed Endo manufacturing facility.
X-Forged Wedges
GolfWRX recently covered the addition of the new X-Forged wedge to the line with a new C-grind added to their wedges. However, as part of the Tour Authentic line, the X-Forged will also be available with the PM grind that made the original X-Tour wedge so successful. The club will also feature a tighter heel to toe radius for greater playability around the greens. The X-Forged also features the super-sharp "Mac Daddy" grooves which are at the USGA’s maximum allowable depth and width providing tremendous amounts of spin. The wedges will be available in both durable chrome and low glare vintage finishes.
Tour Milled Putter
Although many people were very impressed by the Odyssey Black series, quite a few longed for the original Tour-only milled putters prototypes seen among Callaway staffers on the PGA Tour. Odyssey will finally appease the masses with the introduction of the new Tour Milled Putter. Milled from a single blank of 303 stainless steel, this putter is sure to be a big hit among traditionalists. The putter features a thin face for a soft yet solid feel. The thin face also allows weight to be moved to the perimeter and deeper to the back of the putter providing for more forgiveness. The putter will be available in 33, 34, and 35 inch lengths with a standard head weight of 340 grams.
2008 Staff Bags
Callaway will also introduce four new staff bags in 2008 in color schemes that correspond with the major championships.
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- Cam Smith what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X
3-wood: Ping Max G430 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 7 X
7-wood: Titleist TS2 (21 degrees, D4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Elements Proto 8F5
Irons: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi (2, 3), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X Custom Series
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-08M, 60-04T)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130X (46, 52, 56, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron 009M
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Tack
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos of Cam Smith’s gear here.
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- Patrick Reed what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G400 (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125 MSI 70 Tour X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125MSI 80 Tour X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex Pro (18 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila RIP Phenom Hybrid 100 TX
Irons: Titleist 716 TMB (2), Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (50-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (56-08M @55), SM10 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot RX Pt Customs No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
More photos of Patrick Reed’s WITB in the forums.
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Welcome to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
In the last two PGA Championships held at Valhalla, Tiger Woods won in 2000 – when he famously pointed his golf ball into the hole during the historic duel with Bob May – and Rory McIlroy won the 2014 event, basically in the dark on the final hole.
The point is, history shows that Valhalla tends to produce top-tier champions and plenty of drama.
This week at the 2024 PGA Championship, GolfWRX got its first up-close look at what some of the LIV Tour players have in their bags in 2024. We also caught back up with a few PGA Championship legends, such as Rich Beem and John Daly, and we dove into the bags of PGA Sectional qualifiers, too.
In total, we captured 47 different photo galleries this week, including 32 individual What’s In The Bag (WITB) forum threads. Click here to see all of our photos from the event, or continue reading to see my 10 equipment highlights from Valhalla.
1) Brooks Koepka’s new putter
Koepka was previously using a Scotty Cameron T5.5 putter with a slant neck, which he used to win at the beginning of the month in Singapore on the LIV tour. This week, however, he tried a T5.5 with a plumbers neck instead of the slant neck, and it’s immediately going in the bag. According to Scotty Cameron Tour rep Drew Page, Koepka already loved the head, and now finds the plumbers neck a bit more familiar to the blade-style putters he’s used throughout most of his career.
2) The lead tape king returns, with putting goggles
Phil Mickelson has always been one of the GOATs when it comes to lead tape usage, so it was no surprise to see his 64-degree custom Callaway wedge slathered with slabs of lead tape on the back.
The big surprise was that lefty was spotted using ProAim putting training goggles on Wednesday during his warm-up session.
The ProAim goggles are helpful to find center lines and ensure proper alignment to the target.
See Phil Mickelson’s full WITB from the 2024 PGA Championship
3) Dobyns’ old-school gamer setup
Speaking of lead tape, check out Matt Dobyn’s old Titleist 718 T-MB irons, which are so loaded with lead tape that the club is nearly unrecognizable.
Respect.
The head professional at Meadow Brook Club is making his sixth start in a PGA Championship, and he’s using a throwback Callaway GBB Epic driver with MOI-boosting lead tape and adjustable weight placements.
As GolfWRX Forum user “InTheBag” pointed out in our Matt Dobyns’ WITB thread, he has the type of setup that makes you want to hide your wallet: “I don’t know Mr. Dobyns, but one look at that bag tells me he can take your money,” writes InTheBag.
Spot on.
4) John Daly’s custom Sub70 irons and wedges
We first saw John Daly using $750 direct-to-consumer Sub70 659-CB irons and TAIII wedges at the 2023 PNC Championship, and he still has them in the bag, but he’s since stepped up the customization on the Sub70 clubs.
Does Daly ever NOT keep things entertaining?
View this post on Instagram
A true showman.
5) DJ’s custom putter
Dustin Johnson has always been one to test multiple putters week-to-week, and he has a keen eye for different alignment lines and crowns. This week, he’s opting for a completely gray TaylorMade Spider Tour “T3.0” prototype with a short slant neck.
See the rest of DJ’s WITB from the week here
6) Patrick Reed still rocking GrindWorks irons
Patrick Reed knows his stuff when it comes to equipment, and he’s a prolific tester. Still, however, the GrindWorks PR-101A irons are squarely in the bag after his departure to the LIV tour.
The most notable new addition to Reed’s bag is this Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond 3-wood.
Click here to see Reed’s full WITB from this week
7) Beem’s Scratch set
Rich Beem, who won the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, came to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla with a bag full of Scratch Golf irons, which are loaded with lead tape and equipped with some of the coolest custom ferrules in professional golf.
See Rich Beem’s full WITB here
8) Jon Rahm’s 10-iron
Before going to LIV, Rahm was using a Callaway Apex TCB pitching wedge.
Now, he’s using a Callaway Apex TCB “10 iron.”
He’s also since upgraded to three Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke metalwoods, and fresh stampings on his Jaws Raw wedges. Click here to see Rahm’s full WITB from the 2024 PGA Championship.
9) “Why so serious?”
Tyrrell Hatton, another LIV player in the 2024 PGA Championship field, channels his inner Joker to ask everyone, “Why so serious?”
10) Block’s “Proto” iron, from address
As you probably know by now, Block switched out of his old TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2014 irons, and into a full set of TaylorMade’s new “Proto” irons. We’ve already seen the Proto 4-iron in the bags of Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa, but this is our first look at the higher-lofted irons in the set.
Here’s a look at the 7-iron from address:
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Proto irons in our Forums
And, with that, we say goodbye to Louisville, and the second major championship of the 2024 season. We’ll see you next week at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas after a champion has been crowned.
Until then, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week at the 2024 PGA Championship!
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Patrick Reed what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Ping...
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Jon Rahm what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. 15 clubs pictured. More photos from the event...
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Alex S
Mar 8, 2008 at 12:49 am
Callaway making the right business moves. Remember, these irons are for the players first, and rumors are that Phil and Ernie and really liking them. If that can translate to more wins, then Callaway ends up as the beneficiary. I thought Callaway needed a set of ‘blades’ LONG time ago and FINALLY we are seeing their attempt at one. Whatever, it is always prudent business to keep your customers (pro tour members as well as the general public). Personally, I think the x-protype irons look absolutely fantastic. Great job Callaway and I’ll be owners of a set in the future.
Finn
Feb 15, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Which will be easier to hit? Prototypes or X Forged?
Hans T
Feb 3, 2008 at 3:19 am
Cool..! i am waiting to get FT-5 T
Chris K.
Jan 22, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I was allways into callaway but they never had a ste of irons I felt confident with and I hope this is going to change as soon as the Proto´s come out!!
K Vakamudi
Jan 21, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Jason, all will be available April as custom order only through Callaway dealers.
Jason R
Jan 19, 2008 at 7:32 am
Please tell us when the proto irons are going to come out..I have the x-forged now but can’t wait for the proto’s!
Brad B
Jan 17, 2008 at 7:41 am
Question about the FT-5 T driver – does it launch with less backspin than the regular FT-5 Tour?
Which Callaway driver launches with the least backspin (equal lofts, of course)?
Steve H
Jan 16, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I’m a retailer up in Canada and can tell you now that I’ve got customers just chompin’ at the bit to have this opportunity available to them!
I’m definitely going to have to give the new driver a test drive, but those irons look amazing. I’ve got TPMB w/ PX6.0 right now, but if these stack up to the expectations, I’ll be trading in fast!
James L
Jan 16, 2008 at 3:36 am
I have never been a Callaway fan but am currently using the FT-5 tour driver (changed from Titlesit 905R) and it is an excellent club once you get over the awful sound. The x prototype irons look good and I will certainly try them on the back of the performance of the FT-5. I tried the current x-forged irons for a couple of round and liked the clubs but hated the project x shafts. Am I the only one who doesn’t like project x rifle shafts?? (Currently use S400)
Atlas0_6
Jan 15, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Nice. I started of Callaway moved to Nike, Bridgestone.. but the X-proto irons may bring me back to Callaway…
Nice. Really Nice.
finker21
Jan 15, 2008 at 9:34 pm
the irons are so tight put thoes out as soon as possible
T_Lett
Jan 15, 2008 at 9:32 pm
This new stuff is really good, I am a Callaway staff professional and I will playing some of this new stuff this year, I can’t wait.
Texashigh 10
Jan 15, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Freakin’ sweet!!! Putter looks amazing, not sure i could use the driver or irons though.