Equipment

12 Revealing photos from the RBC Heritage and Lotte Championship

Published

8 years ago

Apr 15, 2016

GolfWRX was live this week from the 2016 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, and we also had contributing photos (thanks tod071!) from the LPGA Lotte Championship at Ko Olina Golf Club on the Island of Oahu.

Make sure to catch up on all of the photos in the links below:

From South Carolina to Hawaii, GolfWRX was living the island life this week and providing some amazing photos from both the PGA and LPGA tours. Let’s throw those shaka fingas up and reveal some photos.

Jason Day’s preshot routine, gone awry

It appears that Jason Day’s preshot routine, featuring intense and long-lasting visualization, is sweeping the LPGA Tour. Except something tells me some of these ladies aren’t doing it right.

You’re not supposed to shut your eyes the entire round!

Ground control to Major Tom

Bryson DeChambeau working on the Air Traffic Controller drill to keep his head steady.

Looks about right.

The putter seen round the world

Surprisingly, Ernie Els is sticking with the same putter he used in his Masters 6-putt ordeal. Hank Haney was calling for him to putt lefty in his second round, so the fact he isn’t changing it up shows some gumption.

We can joke all we want, but that took guts from Ernie to not only continue playing, but actually taking a run at making the cut.

Those yips will forever give me nightmares, however.

Sea Pines vs. The Masters

Are the people at Sea Pines Montessori Academy trying to tell me their Pimento Cheese sandwich is $2.50 better than The Masters famous Pimento Cheese sandwich?! Blasphemous!

Actually, maybe they’re right.

The real Tour sauce

You don’t know Tour sauce until you literally have a graphic of pasta sauce on your golf bag.

Stayin fly on the links

Take notes, boys. This caddie rocking Baltimore Orioles’ mid socks and Nike Kyrie 2‘s in the White/Urban Lilac/Bright Mango/Hyper Jade colorway is how you bring the heat.

Michelle Wie has some decent kick game at the LPGA Lotte, as well. And her putting stance is looking more and more like Jack Nicklaus’ by the day.

She just needs to start wearing her glove.

Bro-in’ Out

Bro.

I don’t know what’s more chill, a man bun or 80 pounds of ice.

Tyga may have brought snapbacks back to the world, but Harris English is bringing cord hats back to golf. Nice lid, bro.

Bringing back the old style, I dig it.

LPGA Headcovers

PGA Tour players have some interesting head covers, like Tiger’s and whatnot. But the ladies on the LPGA Tour really go all out.

Check out the gallery below of awesome head covers, and some interesting club setups, too.

Is that a Callaway Steelhead X-14 iron? You can buy one here for $50… not one iron, the entire set!

Swag daddy

Someone smack me the next time they see me at golf course and I’m not wearing rainbow Skechers and skull socks, equipped with a ball retriever. Go hard or go home.

All corded up

Check out Jim Herman’s SuperStroke prototype cord grips.

So that’s how he held onto the lead so tight at the Shell Houston Open.

Harbour Town Golf Links

The course is diabolically tight off most of the tees.

But it’s an undeniably gorgeous track.

And I can’t remember the last time I saw someone make par on the par-3 17th (pictured below). I recall Jim Furyk making birdie last year in a playoff to win, but it seems as though everyone else just makes bogey or worse.

Zach Johnson’s PXG wedge is awesome

Wait. Why does Z. Johnson have Florida-Gators colored headcovers?

Wait. That’s not Zach Johnson’s bag.

Turns out Billy Horschel is playing Z. Johnson’s wedge? #PXGTroops stick together, including sharing weapons of mass par saves, apparently.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

27 Comments

blindkarma

Jul 23, 2016 at 10:05 pm

Andrew Tursky graduated with a bachelor’s in Journalism from Rutgers. Yet he writes casually racist jokes about Asian women golfers with their eyes closed. Way to crush it and make your alma mater and professors proud of your career. To the publisher and editors of Golfwrx, would Mr. Tursky make jokes about hair or skin color if he was covering the NBA or professional boxing? But Asian females in his own sport, sure why not.

Reply Report comment
Mike R

Apr 21, 2016 at 2:39 pm

What’s happened in the last 5-10 years with the whole over-sensitivity and the whole “somebody somewhere might be hurt”. I work with a lot of East Asians and have never even thought about eyes closed thing, and Asians blink just like everyone around the world (apart from the people with some disease preventing them from blinking whom I obviously don’t want to hurt by writing this comment).
I just thought that this was the girl’s reaction to a bad shot somehow. It’s a a very common reaction around the golf course, just like the more offensive reactions like swearing or throwing clubs around. So what, captured on a photo and put in a different perspective to attempt humour (it’s not very intelligent kind of humour, but still…). I really don’t see the problem.
All of a sudden, it’s an Asian thing.
I’ll write “photos of East Asians with eyes closed” on an every expanding list of things that offend people these day. Hopefully, I won’t forget before I use one get castigated for being a racist.

And for the Asians who wrote above, please consider that the people in West Asia (e.g. Pakistan) might get offended by your generalisations.

Reply Report comment
Jnak97

Apr 17, 2016 at 2:20 am

I feel like you people need to cool it with the racism card. Four different women being shown at four different times in the round that are not a pre-shot routine with their eyes closed was definitely not interpreted as racist by me.

Reply Report comment
- ana
  
  Apr 18, 2016 at 3:14 pm
  
  >was definitely not interpreted as racist by me.
  Well Jnak97, it was, by me – and i’m not even Asian.
  
  Reply Report comment
- blindkarma
  
  Jul 24, 2016 at 12:33 pm
  
  *was definitely not interpreted as racist by me* Why do racists or misogynists always think this is a defense?
  
  Reply Report comment
Michael Lee

Apr 16, 2016 at 9:31 pm

Apology accepted, please think about what you said though. Some of your last comments really did hurt especially the last one.

Reply Report comment
Matt

Apr 16, 2016 at 7:56 am

Why are people so butt hurt about the eyes closed thing. You probably aren’t even Asian. Get over it. This is what’s wrong with America. Write what you want man !

Reply Report comment
- Jack Nguyen
  
  Apr 16, 2016 at 10:55 am
  
  Hello Matt,
  Just to let you know I am Asian and I came to America 6 years ago. When I attended middle school I got made fun of people would also ask me why were my eyes always closed and people said I would never pass my drivers test because Asians are bad drivers. So when you see a post like this it does hurt. Although this is America and free speech is allowed please be respectful about others. What if this post had something that offended you. You would feel exactly the same.
  
  Cheers,
  Jack
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Matt
    
    Apr 16, 2016 at 10:08 pm
    
    I’m American. I don’t get butt hurt. I can call me what ever u want. Also theses women have their eyes closed so…..
    
    Reply Report comment
- Michael Lee
  
  Apr 16, 2016 at 11:11 am
  
  It does hurt sometimes Matt. Being Asian-American growing up a lot of those jokes do hurt over time, such as “open up your eyes” and you got the casual joke where someone goes “Ching Chong li long” to me it’s joke a I get it, but some people would get hurt even if they are not Asian because their looking at our point of view and find it offensive. I do agree this post is inappropriate but there is no racism at all in the post. Just a little editing would help! 🙂
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Golfer1
    
    Apr 16, 2016 at 6:00 pm
    
    These comments are uncalled for and getting out of hand. The comment section needs to be deleted on this article and Andrew has some explaining to do.
    
    Reply Report comment
Cyd2293

Apr 16, 2016 at 6:26 am

Will you metrosexual millennials quit with the cries of racism. Most of you spoiled, pampered brats don’t know what racism is.

12 may have been inappropriate but racist. No.

In other words lighten up ladies.

Reply Report comment
- Dr Troy
  
  Apr 16, 2016 at 9:53 am
  
  110% agree. Lighten up Francis.
  
  Reply Report comment
- TMTC
  
  Apr 16, 2016 at 10:25 am
  
  I agree wholeheartedly.
  Lighten up.
  
  Reply Report comment
Schizo Smizzle

Apr 16, 2016 at 4:19 am

Clueless. Totally clueless. And not even funny. And no, none of your comebacks will even be as clever as those girls.

Reply Report comment
Jane

Apr 15, 2016 at 10:16 pm

12 is rascist. seriously.

Reply Report comment
- Schizo Smizzle
  
  Apr 16, 2016 at 4:18 am
  
  Smizzle just doesn’t get it. He never will.
  
  Reply Report comment
ATC

Apr 15, 2016 at 7:22 pm

The guy in #11 is a ramp agent. Not an air traffic controller.

Reply Report comment
cgasucks

Apr 15, 2016 at 4:44 pm

I wonder who’s bag had that X-14 3 iron?

Reply Report comment
mark

Apr 15, 2016 at 4:22 pm

asian eyes closed the entire round?! well done golfwrx in making fun of asian. what next? people with different colour? go ahead and i leave your website altogether.

Reply Report comment
Derek

Apr 15, 2016 at 2:41 pm

Asian women…eyes closed? Really?

Reply Report comment
JZ

Apr 15, 2016 at 12:47 pm

The Asian women with their eyes closed is completely inappropriate.

Reply Report comment
Mike Thomas

Apr 15, 2016 at 12:07 pm

#12 isn’t even funny… Please edit this post. I agree that the writer should have took 2 seconds to think about what he just wrote.

Reply Report comment
Mike Honcho

Apr 15, 2016 at 11:29 am

WOW!!! 4 pics all of Asian women with their eyes closed. I agree that the world has gone over the top with PC, but you gotta stop and think a second before you post something like that. Writer may have a Masters in Communications, but doesn’t even have a 2-year JUCO certificate in Journalism (sorry Rutgers).

Reply Report comment
Tyler

Apr 15, 2016 at 10:37 am

Lot of guys starting to play PXG. Horschel is a big loss for Ping.

Reply Report comment
- Fred
  
  Apr 15, 2016 at 2:31 pm
  
  Two of the players using the PXG irons at the Masters (Zach Johnson (+8) and Chris Kirk (+9) didn’t even make the cut. Billy Horschel made the cut, but finished 17th at +4. Johnson wants us to believe that he gave up using the irons he won 10 tournaments with, because the PXGs are better. Will be interesting to see how many, if any, PGA and LPGA players win with these irons this year.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Mike
    
    May 2, 2016 at 1:32 pm
    
    Let’s be honest here – PXG wants you to think that’s what Johnson wants you to think.
    
    But we all know Johnson switched because of the $$$$. That’s what drives 99.9% of equipment choices on Tour nowadays.
    
    Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

3 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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