Tour News
Report: McIlroy to switch to Callaway clubs, Titleist ball
According to a report from No Laying Up, Rory McIlroy will use several new clubs and a new golf ball when he tees it up at the European Tour’s BMW South Africa Open on January 12.
The report cites five specific changes to McIlroy’s bag:
- Driver: Callaway Epic Sub Zero
- Irons: Callaway Apex MB (custom)
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey
- Putter: Odyssey with prototype insert
- Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
A case can be made that all the reported changes to McIlroy’s bag are significant, but the driver and putter switches are the most interesting because of the secretive nature of the products.
Callaway’s Epic Sub Zero driver is on the USGA’s Conforming Club List, but it is yet to be announced by Callaway. Odyssey (owned by Callaway) is also yet to release the prototype putter insert in question, which No Laying Up says is the same insert used by Phil Mickelson.
Related: Our Q&A with No Laying Up’s Chris Solomon
McIlroy has stated several times that he does not plan to sign an equipment endorsement contract in 2017, but it’s clear that he’s working closely with representatives from Callaway in order to obtain the yet-to-be-announced equipment.
McIlroy previously used Titleist’s Vokey wedges and a Pro V1X golf ball before signing an equipment endorsement contract with Nike in 2014. The latest Vokey wedges are the company’s SM6 models. A 2017 version of Titleist’s Pro V1x golf ball was also launched this fall to tour players, but is yet to be announced for retail release. The report did not clarify exactly what model of Vokey wedges or Pro V1x golf ball McIlroy will use.
In October, No Laying Up was the first to confirm that McIlroy would use TaylorMade’s M2 driver and fairway woods at the HSBC-Champions in China. It is unclear whether McIlroy will continue to use the TaylorMade M1 fairway woods that were in his bag for his last tournament, the DP World Championship in Dubai.
Related: See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the reported changes to McIlroy’s equipment.
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Wedge stampings are the eye-popping garnish on the glorious plates of golf equipment. Maybe this isn’t exactly the right metaphor, because, well, the parsley (wedge stamp) isn’t as mouth-water as the Wagyu (wedge), but you get the point…right?
Anyway, let’s look at some wedges from the RSM Classic a couple of weeks ago and see what stampings and paintfills the pros were showcasing at Sea Island.
You may not know Anthony Cordes, but surely you’ll want to add him to your shortlist of players to passionately root for after seeing this Wedding Crashers-inspired wedge.
Bo Van Pelt is a fairly cool dude. That usually happens if your name is “Bo”—the nomenclature brings with it a certain je ne sais quoi. When you’ve got initials that sound great together—BVP—you don’t need to add any unnecessary elements to the recipe.
We’ll assume Anastissia and Victoria are Brendan Steele’s daughters, and not that he has an appreciation for royalty of antiquity. Cool stamping with the pink-filled dots.
Look past David Hearn gaming 2011 TaylorMade TP MC irons to the lead tape and stamping on his SM4 (!) wedges. The Canadian knows what he likes!
Similar to the proposition raised in the Bo Van Pelt section: “Hank” is a fairly cool name. If you’re referred to as such, get it stamped on your wedge and call it a day.
Jhonattan Vegas’ Mizuno irons always feature tidy “JV” stamping, and he’s extended the treatment to his prototype Artisan wedges, which are peeking out below.
Also on the Mizuno front, Lucas Glover has his JPX 919 irons stamped with his initials (no paintfill—nastiness), but his 52-degree wedge feature the loft it is bent to (54 degrees)—a classic stamping.
Michael Gligic was the only “MG” in the RSM Classic field, so we’re assuming these are his wedges. They could, however, be stamped with someone with a real affinity for the model.
See more photos from the RSM Classic here.
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GolfWRX is live from Sea Island Golf Club in St,. Simons Island, Georgia for the RSM Classic.
Coming the week after the Masters, plenty of players from the tournament in Augusta are making their way 3.5 hours South to the Davis Love III-hosted event.
We have six general galleries of photos for you to check out as well as new shafts from UST Mamiya and a welcome resurrection of two decade-old White Hot putter models.
General Galleries
- 2020 RSM Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2020 RSM Classic – Tuesday #2
- 2020 RSM Classic – Tuesday #3
- 2020 RSM Classic – Tuesday #4
- 2020 RSM Classic – Tuesday #5
- 2020 RSM Classic – Tuesday #6
Other Galleries
See what GolfWRXers and join the discussion in the forums: 2020 RSM Classic WITB Photos- discussion
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GolfWRX is live from the Vivint Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, where players who, well, like to play before majors are playing (including Mav McNealy with some vintage Nike blades in the featured image).
The likes of Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson will be making their final tune-ups before next week’s test at Augusta National.
On the subject of tuning, players who will be competing at ANGC are getting their bags dialed and those who won’t are free to experiment as they start to consider their 2021 artillery.
General galleries
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #3
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #4
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #5
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #6
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #7
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #8
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #9
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #10
- 2020 Vivint Houston Open – Tuesday #11
Special galleries
- Adam Scott sting a Ventus shaft – 2020 Vivint Houston Open
- Srixon ZX5 irons – 2020 Vivint Houston Open
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When it comes to winning, Emily Kristine Pedersen has made it look pretty easy recently with three straight wins on...
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Driver: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 60 TX 3-wood: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (15 degrees)...
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Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero Single Diamond (9 degrees, -1/N) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X (45 inches, D3) 3-wood:...
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Driver: Callaway BB21 (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X (@46.5″) 3-wood: Callaway BB21 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus...
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Steph Curry WITB (The Match 3)
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suhdude
Jan 3, 2017 at 2:59 pm
callaway gang! uh suhhhh dude
Boom
Jan 3, 2017 at 2:23 pm
you guys know he hasn’t even signed a contract with anyone yet. he is just using a mixed bag and play what he feels best. jus cause he is using a callaway irons and driver and woods doesn’t mean he signed with them. he prob isn’t even getting money from anyone but nike. lol with 825 milli network money isn’t issue
Rich Douglas
Jan 2, 2017 at 11:11 pm
Going with Titleist instead of the Callaway ball should not be seen as a slight against the quality of the Callaway. I’m sure what happened is he found the Titleist better fitting his needs and cut a deal with Callaway to include it. Making that choice probably cost him a lot of Callaway money, but he must have thought it was worth it on the course.
Boom
Jan 3, 2017 at 2:29 pm
I’m sure if he had contracts with Callaway GolfWRX would of made a huge post about it. same with Titleist and Odyssey. you know how they made a article bout Tiger signing with Bridgestone, same thing we would of been reading tones on stuff about his contract. went with Callaway cause his nike irons were to spinning with the new ProV1x and he was loosing distance and he said Callaway worked the best out of all the clubs he got sent to him. he will win with a mixed bag. his net worth is 825 milli lol i don’t think he is worried about money hahaha
Looper
Jan 2, 2017 at 1:20 pm
Bye Rory…
KJ
Jan 2, 2017 at 1:07 pm
wasn’t the most recent putter that he made everything with a Scotty? Why the h*** would you change that after 2 miserable years of putting?
kansaslefty
Jan 2, 2017 at 9:21 am
what is he going to do with the 3 years of Nike balls he has ?
Forsbrand
Jan 1, 2017 at 2:24 pm
Is this a hoax?
Dat
Jan 1, 2017 at 2:55 pm
Let’s hope. Callaway is desperate for a new big name though. It is probably true.
SV
Jan 1, 2017 at 9:30 am
Very disappointed. I was hoping he would get his woods from Old Tom Morris, irons from Robert Forgan, both of St. Andrews and golf balls from Wm. Gourlay of Musselburgh.
Brian Smith
Jan 4, 2017 at 9:44 am
Forgan clubs are excellent yet you never see them reviewed although they are one of the oldest club makers in the world.
ooffa
Jan 1, 2017 at 6:51 am
Did he break up with his previous sponsor by text.
drkviol801
Jan 1, 2017 at 11:40 am
best comment ever! Hats off to you m8 Caroline may shed a tear
Lloyd
Jan 1, 2017 at 4:51 am
Good move
lastr002
Dec 31, 2016 at 9:04 pm
DAMN!!!! I totally had this set up!!! I cant believe that McIlroy is copying me!!!!! I always knew I was a trend setter!
Tom
Jan 2, 2017 at 11:15 am
that’s what it say’s on your facebook page
moses
Dec 31, 2016 at 7:05 pm
Always cool to see what guys like Rory or Tiger will play when they choose equipment that’s best for them and money of is no concern which clubs make it into the bag.
Philip
Dec 31, 2016 at 9:44 pm
That is still up in the air as we have no idea whether there is no endorsement to go with these changes if and when they occur.
drkviol801
Dec 31, 2016 at 7:00 pm
FIRST!
Uhit
Dec 31, 2016 at 10:52 pm
Well, I have waited for this information since years… 😉
…b.t.w.: who and what comes last?
Any idea drkviol801??
drkviol801
Jan 1, 2017 at 11:43 am
“The first in the order of intention is the last in the order of execution.” This philosophical principle, drilled into the minds of all aspiring Aristotelians, can seem at first to be quite discouraging.
Uhit
Jan 2, 2017 at 2:56 pm
Why not choose the golden middle?
Thinking before doing, and doing before it´s all over.
Maybe one should spice up aristotelism with buddhism…
…and play golf with the tools a buddha would use?
Who needs Titleist, or Callaway, if peace is in your mind.