Equipment
Top-10 Photos from the 2016 WM Phoenix Open
GolfWRX was live this week from the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course, where golf’s biggest party is held. An estimated 500,000 people came out to last year’s event, mostly for the festivities at hole No. 16’s stadium-style atmosphere.
The party-like vibes seem to be infectious to the players — well, except Bubba Watson — making it one of the most entertaining golf events all year.
And for gear heads and golf fans, our photos this week were worth celebration, as well. Below are my top-10 photos from the 2016 WM Phoenix Open, and you’re welcome to argue the order of this list in the comment section. Let the countdown begin.
Rickie Fowler’s “Spank My Sole”
We learned about Fowler’s wedge stampings in 2015, and they continue to be wildly entertaining. My best guess is that “spank my sole” refers to the way Fowler wants to engage the bounce at impact with his wedge, by spanking it against the turf or sand. Also, the photo provides a nice look at the tungsten plugs Fowler has in the toe of his wedges, which he also has in his irons.
Old School 2-Ball
If you don’t think pros are weary to switch into new equipment, especially with their putters, look no further than this photo.
With all of the alignment technology in the new Odyssey putters, which you can learn more about here, it’s amazing that Harris English (click here to see all the clubs in his bag) decides to stick with this alignment line, surely drawn with a standard Sharpie marker and a ruler. It might be time to freshen up that faded line, too.
Groundhog Day
Robert Streb — the undisputed champion of wedge stampings — has new Vokey wedges in his bag this week that honor Groundhog Day (the day) by quoting Groundhog Day (the movie).
Maybe the wedge will help him get up-and-down over, and over, and over, and over again.
Raw
Here’s another appearance from Harry English in the Top-10. This photo shows off one of the most raw clubs on Tour that we’ve seen in the last few years, a Callaway Razr X Muscle Back 2 iron. Most golfers couldn’t even get the golf ball airborne with this club, but it could make for a nice putter replacement.
Phil’s Addiction
In my revealing photos segment last year, I asked GolfWRX readers to rally around Phil Mickelson as he dealt with his addiction to lead tape. Unfortunately, he’s fallen off the wagon already in 2016. Five sheets of lead tape, Phil?
Regardless, this photo offers a look into how Phil likes to tinker with his equipment, even when he’s the one who helped design the club — a Callaway PM (Phil Mickelson) Grind. Maybe he should have designed the wedge a few swing weight points higher?
Party On!
The WM Phoenix Open isn’t dubbed the “greatest show on grass” for no reason — event-goers like to party. This putter cover from Bettinardi commemorates the celebration, although it looks like one of the partiers on the cover had a little too much to drink. And another is a stickler for recycling (he’s probably an employee at Waste Management).
Kirk’s PXG creativity
PXG’s weighting system has been the cause of commotion in the golf equipment world, especially in our forums. Chris Kirk, who signed with PXG in 2016, found a creative way to set up the weights in his wedges. Surely this configuration is to lower the head weight.
Thank you, Scotty
Zac Blair’s custom Scotty Cameron putter is simply a masterpiece. Just look how the “Scotty Cameron” stamping reflects off the back of the putter — it’s mesmirrorizing
Poulter’s snowball fight
Based on photos from this week, it was relatively frigid in the Arizona desert on Tuesday and Wednesday. And with some snow left over on the range, Poulter thought to throw a snowball at his caddie… you know, as a “thank you” for carrying his bag all year. We knew he could play golf and drive Ferrari’s, but his throwing motion doesn’t look too shabby. A poised and balanced release. Nice throw, Poults.
Generation golfwrX
For every cool photo of golf equipment we see, it makes us even happier to share the joy of golf and GolfWRX with the youth of America. And what’s more fun than enjoying the thrill of golf while spending time with your father?
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Whats in the Bag
Matthieu Pavon WITB 2024 (May)
- Pavon’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
3-wood: Ping G430 LST (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Ping i230 (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: Ping Si59 (52-12S, 58-8B)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Ping Cadence TR Tomcat C
Grip: SuperStroke Claw 1.0P
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Pavon’s gear here.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tommy Fleetwood’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Prototype putter
Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.
This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.
Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.
The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.
Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
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Equipment
Club Junkie WITB, league night week 4: Some old, some new
We enter week 4 of Thursday night men’s league feeling a little more confident in the game. BK is hoping to go a little lower and reduce the mistakes out there with these clubs in the bag. Watch the video for the full breakdown of why these clubs are getting the starting nod this week!
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 63 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Lin-Q M40X TSPX Blue 7F5
7-wood: Ping G430 Max (-1 degree, flat Ssetting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 S
Iron: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 4
Shaft: Aerotech Steelfiber hls880 S
Irons: PXG 0317 Tour (5-PW)
Shaft: LA Golf A-Series 105 Low (4)
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50-08F)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Dart V 105 F4 Wedge
Wedge: Ping S159 (56-10H)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Wedge: Ping S159 (60-08B)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Putter: PXG Battle Ready II Brandon
Shaft: BGT Stability Tour Spec One
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
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Greg Moore
Feb 5, 2016 at 5:55 pm
Great job, AT! Glad you used the IJP “snowball” photo!