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?
- LIKE40
- LEGIT9
- WOW2
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB1
- SHANK6
Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes
As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
- LIKE18
- LEGIT2
- WOW1
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB1
- SHANK1
Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
View this post on Instagram
According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
- LIKE23
- LEGIT1
- WOW0
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB1
- SHANK3
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole4 days ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole3 days ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole2 days ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Addiction, spinal fusion, and scam artists – Everything Anthony Kim revealed in candid interview with David Feherty
Greg Moore
Feb 5, 2016 at 5:55 pm
Great job, AT! Glad you used the IJP “snowball” photo!