Equipment
33 Revealing Photos from The Players Championship
Last week, GolfWRX was live from the LPGA North Texas Shootout, but we’re back on the PGA Tour this week for The Players Championship at the world-renowned TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course — where golf balls go to swim. All the big guns are in the tournament, including 50 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings.
If you haven’t checked out our photos from this week, you can see them here. They’re awesome. But for now, let’s see what the photos showed us in this week’s edition of Revealing Photos.
Slippery grips? Rub ’em with a brick
Actually, it’s a manicure buffer. Keep the nails smooth and the grips tacky… tough to argue with practicality.
Furyk going super casual on the putting green
No hat, showing off the full scalp, wearing flip-flops and using what looks to be a Stimp meter as a training aid? I know you live nearby, but jeez Jimmy, you’re in public!
And what’s the word with your toe nails, man?
Jimmy Bones does know how to roll the rock with the Odyssey Versa #1 Wide (WBW), however, as seen during his win at the 2015 RBC Heritage where he made multiple clutch putts to claim his first victory in five years.
Show ’em the fist pump!
Here it is; this is what all the hype is about
Tiger and swing coach Chris Como appear to be working on his infamous release pattern. Maybe their working on “traj” and “release pattern” simultaneously?
This is GolfWRX, not National Geographic, but…
Is this Osprey flying around with half of a fish in his claws? Amazing (and gruesome) photo.
Fowler on the range cracking jokes
He even got his teacher Butch Harmon to laugh.
The star of this photo is the guy on the left, who truly epitomizes #BucketHatLife — hands in the pockets, pink shirt with the collar popped, casually laughing at a Rickie Fowler joke on the range of a PGA Tour event. Just living the Bucket Hat dream.
Odyssey’s new “Big T” putters spotted at The Players
And why they’re called “Big T,” I have no idea. That’s sarcasm, by the way.
See more photos of Odyssey’s new Big T putters in our forums.
Jason Day messing around hitting some shots lefty
Weight shift looks like it needs some work. Keep working on it.
OK. Getting to your right side a little better here. Something’s still off, so maybe you should switch back to righty for now?
Looks like you made decent contact based on the divot, and the release looks more balanced. You should switch back to righty now, though.
No? Still working on your lefty swing, huh? If we’re being honest, the move is getting there — a nice full finish. Well done. Seriously, can you go back to right-handed now? The Players Championship is this week. You’ve gotta tournament to prepare for.
NSFW (this photo gallery will end all work productivity)
Impeccable craftsmanship from T.P. Mills.
Bernhard Langer’s bag: like a true GolfWRXer
A collection of different clubs from different OEM’s, and just about all the wedges and irons are dripping in lead tape.
Luke Donald was testing new Mizuno Prototype drivers, fairway woods and irons
It looks as though Donald does have the new driver in play this week, but we have yet to confirm the fairway woods or irons. Regardless, Mizuno fanatics are surely licking their collective chops over these photos for the time being.
Justin Rose is testing a Callaway Mack Daddy PM Grind wedge
Then again, Rosey has probably tested every wedge on Tour by now. That’s commitment.
Mickelson is carrying three PM grind wedges (56-13, 60-10, 64-10)
And it looks as though he’s switched into Callaway’s new Apex MB irons from the Callaway X Forged ’13 irons this week — while still holding onto the 4-iron from his old set — he’s had in the bag in recent years.
Geoff Ogilvy’s putter has a nice patina
And by nice patina, I mean it’s probably been laying outside for last decade, has weathered hundreds of rain storms, and has never seen the inside of a head cover. Impressive.
A bag full of bent golf clubs?
Or Henrik Stenson’s bag of irons and wedges after a typical 18-hole round?
The DST Compressor training aids have been popping up everywhere in Tour bags of late. The slight bend helps players get the feeling of compressing the ball at impact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hK_gcEfSW4
Stenson, on the other hand, has a tendency to compress the actual golf club itself.
Luckily this isn’t a minimum height for the actual tournament
Rory and Rickie may not have qualified.
#ReleaseTheKeegans
Please?
Keegs already took down Jimenez, now he’s going after Phil?
Calm it down, dude. You’re on a golf course.
Keegan and Phil are good friends, so this is obviously just an ill-timed photograph. Keegan recently addressed his scuffle, and admitted Jimenez “schooled” him.
Is this kid giving Spieth the cold shoulder?
He must be a Rory fan. I hear they’re rivals now.
The PGA Tour guys are so pampered
Us miserable hacks have to choose from white or yellow limited-flight range balls. That’s probably the only reason we’re not all out on Tour, too.
Looks like we’re not in Augusta anymore.
At The Masters, you can get Augusta National’s famous Pimento Cheese sandwich for the same price as a coffee at The Players. I mean, $12.50 for the Skinny Turkey Sandwich?
Charley Hoffman’s Titleist MB irons suffer from road rash
I’m not sure what the real explanation here is, but it looks like Hoffman’s iron got ran over by a car. Maybe he’s giving himself an excuse to put the new Titleist MB prototypes in the bag?
A good look at Spieth’s half interlock grip.
Just goes to show that there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
This is Robert Streb’s wedge.
I don’t even need to fact check this one. A Step Brothers quote in red writing on a Titleist SM5 wedge? He’s the king of the Step Brothers quote. Morgan Hoffmann has been dethroned.
Rickie Fowler’s Cobra Tour Trusty wedges are toe heavy
His wedges, much like his irons, have tungsten plugs in their toe to push the center of gravity away from the heel and add back some of the swing weight he loses by playing his clubs 0.25 inches shorter than Cobra’s standard.
I’d make a comment about this photo…
But I can’t figure out who’s bag it is. Oh well.
“Calls may be placed or received only in areas away from play”
…or during a crucial bunker shot on the 73rd hole in a three-way playoff. Either one.
Note: That’s a Jordan Spieth/Shell Houston Open joke for those that don’t keep up with Tour events.
Jordan Spieth starring as Daniel-son at The Players
The 21-year old 2015 Masters Champion is the Karate Kid of the PGA Tour. Get it?
Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth had “Non Splash Brothers” matching stampings in their bags on Wednesday
The Splash Brothers are the NBA’s Golden State Warriors duo of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson — known for making it rain, or “splash” from beyond the arc.
Making it “splash” in golf usually takes on a different meaning, like dunking a golf ball in the water. Nothing to celebrate there.
Upon clarification, the matching wedges were in the bags of Spieth and Thomas for their caddies to use in the caddie contest held at No. 17 (The Island Green). Obviously, neither caddie would want to splash the ball on that particular hole.
G-Mac is using a Cleveland prototype putter
Is that felt from a tennis ball on the face (surely it’s not, but that would be pretty cool, no?). Looks like McDowell may have finally ditched the Odyssey White Hot Mallet #7 prototype he’s had in the bag for years.
We’d show you some photos of K.J. Choi when he’s not working out on the range
But he’s never not working out on the range.
Webb Simpson on the range with a throwback hickory-shafted iron
“Hey, what’s this wooden thing?”
“It’s a putter right? You set up like this?”
Jerry Kelly’s Cleveland wedges are printed with $100 bills
Here’s a fun fact: With only three PGA Tour wins, Kelly has made over $26 million in career earnings.
Show me the money, Jerry.
PGA Tour caddies have a serious gripe with their treatment at Tour events
But with a caddie’s own reserved parking spot at The Players, maybe this isn’t the best week to hold a protest.
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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.
View this post on Instagram
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.
View this post on Instagram
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.
View this post on Instagram
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)
View this post on Instagram
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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Jim Rockford
May 11, 2015 at 10:29 pm
I do believe popped collar / bucket-hat man is Snedeker’s caddie.
Unrelated, what is up with J. Rose’s 8-iron? It looks like he grabbed it from a set of Spalding Executive irons.
Gary O
May 11, 2015 at 9:49 pm
Furyk’s training aid: check out “theperfectputter.com”
talljohn777
May 12, 2015 at 12:59 am
Thank you…
Sam
May 11, 2015 at 9:37 pm
That rory and rickie comment was hilarious!!
Shawn
May 11, 2015 at 8:18 pm
Not buying KB’s denial of Pepsi’s comment to Miguel.
Mark
May 11, 2015 at 12:10 pm
What is the training aid furyk is using?
RG
May 11, 2015 at 2:03 am
It’s Andrew of course dumba#*!! Typo, Andrew knows who the main man is!
Benny
May 10, 2015 at 8:02 am
I look forward to this new segment each week. Awesome stuff, love the humur and also the comments. Keep them coming please. Its why Golfwrx is the best site going!
Lordmokoloko
May 10, 2015 at 1:57 am
Can you please get rid of the Furyk’s foot picture on the homepage!
MRC
May 9, 2015 at 8:36 pm
I can’t stop laughing! Well done….Well said!
Jeffcb
May 9, 2015 at 9:33 am
The first shot is a sanding pad for drywall. Used one myself.
RG
May 9, 2015 at 2:23 am
Andre my man, my main man! You are large and in charge! Bigger than the Sta-Puff Marshmallow Man! Best thing going on this website. Please keep up the good work, and excuse me, one quick word….
!Attention All Club Ho’s and Teaching Pros!
When you start talking about “worn out grooves” and “latest shaft technology” and “more distance” and the “importance’ of these ideas understand this here and now,
Bernhard Langer hits Hogan Apex 3,4,5 irons from ’92 and Adams MB Black from ’02 AND Vokey wedges that are 20 years old. He has had them in continuous play all this time. All have Hogan Apex shafts that were manufactured in the 1980’s in them. He will take these old worn out ancient tech clubs and beat your brains in. My point:
Stop hyping the “need replacement” angle. It’s really only “I want new clubs.” Don’t believe me? Go ask Bernhard. And if you think you know more about golf and equipment than him, you need professional help.
Steve Sales
May 9, 2015 at 11:24 pm
Right on RG.
RG
May 11, 2015 at 2:00 am
Who’s Andre?
greg
May 8, 2015 at 6:54 pm
Some good, some okay. Still pretty funny and a good addition to the front page. Thanks, AT
DMcDFrom83
May 8, 2015 at 6:41 pm
In what might be one of my silliest oversights, it just dawned on me that not everyone uses an interlocking grip. Of course I have always acknowledged the 10-finger baseball grip s an oddity, but to this day put no thought into an overlapping grip.
Desmond
May 8, 2015 at 4:09 pm
Funny stuff…
Nick
May 8, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Anyone but a German for #19
sgniwder99
May 9, 2015 at 7:52 am
Holy crap, that was hilarious. Well played!
Rich
May 9, 2015 at 11:24 am
Sorry, I don’t understand the reference?
Golfraven
May 9, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Ok I see. Rather odd. They should have thought about it.