Equipment
Spotted: Titleist’s new 917F2 and 917F3 fairway woods
We first caught a glimpse of Titleist’s 917 fairway woods when Jimmy Walker posted this video on Instagram. Now, we have in-hand photos of the clubs that were onsite at the 2016 John Deere Classic on Monday.
Titleist has yet to officially comment on the new equipment, but there are a few things we can safely assume from our photos.
- The 917 fairway woods will use Titleist’s new SureFit CG weighting system, which appears similar to the system used in Titleist’s new 917 drivers. They will be the first adjustable-CG fairway woods in Titleist history, and likely offer golfers the ability to control draw and fade bias of the clubs.
- Like the 915 fairway woods, 917 models use an “Active Recoil Channel,” which appears to have been redesigned. The channel helps improve ball speed and forgiveness, while increasing launch angle and lowering spin rate.
- The 917 fairway woods use a new model naming system. Instead of the familiar F and Fd models, 917 fairway woods will be released in F2 and F3 models.
Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks, but for now, enjoy our exclusive photos of the products.
Titleist 917F2
Titleist 917F3
Related: See more photos, and what GolfWRX Members are saying about the new 917 woods in our forum.
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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.
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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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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)
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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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Tyler
Sep 2, 2016 at 4:22 pm
Those clubs look great, I’m in the market for a new driver….I’m glad I found this article. Thanks
KK
Aug 25, 2016 at 8:34 pm
Hoping the 919 goes back to black.
Spider
Aug 13, 2016 at 8:43 pm
Nothing they make will ever compel me to take my 1 iron out of my bag. But if I did game a fwy wood this one would be it. Or maybe a tour edge exotics.
KK
Aug 25, 2016 at 8:29 pm
My alignment sticks get more course time than your 1 iron.
AlDoc
Aug 9, 2016 at 11:30 am
You sound like a snob
Matty
Aug 9, 2016 at 11:24 am
This fairway wood makes me wonder why Titleist didn’t move the Active Recoil Channel more forward on the 917 driver, which is basically is a 915 driver with Surefit CG.
golfraven
Aug 9, 2016 at 1:05 am
I am glad they managed to cover the recoil grove since it has been a pain to clean it in the 915 models. Not sure what I should think of the screw but soon you forget about it when you take it out of the bag. Also wondering about the grey ish finish – prefare the darker tone of previous lines (910-915). Hope they come up with smaller head shape in the hybrid line though – the 916 still is too big.
ta
Aug 10, 2016 at 11:29 am
You mean 816. Which is why the 917 are also grey
Uncle Buck
Aug 9, 2016 at 12:50 am
The sole reminds me of an exercise logo from the Jack LaLane European Health Spa days!! I know I know, everybody under the age of 49 is clueless……..Jack who??
COGolfer
Aug 8, 2016 at 10:37 pm
The 915F was enticing enough to consider moving from the 913F. I’m not sure this one has the same draw.
Tanner V.
Aug 8, 2016 at 9:43 pm
Maybe you should get your eyes checked
TMNT
Aug 8, 2016 at 8:00 pm
It’s a TaylorNikeleist.
TWShoot67
Aug 8, 2016 at 5:38 pm
I like the deeper face more rounded sole kind of like my TM R7 HFS. Still playing the R7 HFS, maybe time to upgrade to one of these. Maybe have to give these a good demo.
Adam
Aug 8, 2016 at 5:11 pm
Oh my. That looks like a star of David for the CG adjustment screw..
Boy, the media is going to have a field day with this.
Couldn’t resist..
Mat
Aug 8, 2016 at 4:36 pm
Interesting hot-melt port…
Sam
Aug 8, 2016 at 3:50 pm
These look almost Callaway-ish in the shape, more of a rounded look.
Jwowzer
Aug 8, 2016 at 3:33 pm
Go on…
Forsbrand
Aug 8, 2016 at 3:55 pm
Yes, go on, enlighten us….
Daniel Han
Aug 8, 2016 at 7:47 pm
Too poor to afford PXG?
Menstrual Smizzle
Aug 9, 2016 at 7:29 am
Me too
IHateGolfIsAwesome
Aug 10, 2016 at 8:48 am
What’s an EBT card?
Tiger Woodz
Aug 8, 2016 at 1:47 pm
I like them golf clubs. I like to play that golf from time to time.
Concerned Troll
Aug 8, 2016 at 1:38 pm
It’s actually an old model naming system. I had a 909F3. The D was always confusing. Surprised it hung around as long as it did.
Blake
Aug 8, 2016 at 4:58 pm
The d name is still around for drivers. This is replacing f/fd name system
Simon
Aug 8, 2016 at 9:07 pm
I think what Concerned Troll is referring to are the F and Fd woods in the past. D in the driver line has always stood for “Driver”. However, d in the fairway wood line refers to a deeper face. I agree having the f2 and f3 makes it easier to understand and more consistent with the 917 driver line.
Tommy Lejund
Aug 8, 2016 at 1:23 pm
Love the grey paint job and the adjustable CG option.
G.W
Aug 8, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Very nice,looks like they addressed the issue of cleaning the recoil channel that some had complained about.
Dazza
Aug 8, 2016 at 12:11 pm
They look like they would be hard to keep clean. There is lots of holes and crevices for mud and grass to clog????
dr. abo
Aug 8, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Looks nice. I would bag it