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.
- LIKE199
- LEGIT20
- WOW18
- LOL13
- IDHT10
- FLOP9
- OB7
- SHANK43
This week is the Zozo Championship at Sherwood Golf Club, and with most of the worlds top golfers including Tiger Woods playing and prepping for the November Masters, there is a lot going on around the range when it comes to gear and testing.
As a reminder, you can check out all of our photos in the GolfWRX forums.
New Fourteen irons and wedges
The irons are a throwback to a classic “channel back” style iron with mass positioned towards the top and bottom of the face to increase vertical stability of the blade while also maintaining feel.
Justin Rose with Artisan lob wedge
The little shop from Texas continues to make big waves with more wedges spotted on tour every week including in former world number 1 Justin Rose.
Xander Schauffele’s new Apex irons and testing putters on Quintic
Xander’s prototype Callaway Apex irons look a lot like the newly released 2021 X-Forged irons but with obvious Apex branding. We also can’t forget about putting, and it’s cool to see a Quintic high-speed camera system on the practice green getting players dialed in to launch conditions just like how they would for a driver.
Ricky using older generation Cobra Amp Cell Pro Irons
If there is one thing pros love, it’s a set of older irons—they’re the golf equivalent of putting on a pair of comfy broken-in jeans. For Ricky and his custom Amp Cell Pro’s with tungsten toe inserts, there must be some magic there because he has previously used multiple newer sets of irons but continues to gravitate towards these.
Hideki Maruyama testing new Bettinardi putter
Hideki isn’t someone to shy away from testing putters, and this week he was spotted testing one of the new Bettinardi putters that debuted last week in Las Vegas at Shadow Creek.
Pros are “just like us” – Justin Thomas and Mac Hughes edition
Yes, tour pros are just like us except for the fact that they are exceptional golfers, but even JT likes help in his long game and has a Titleist T300 3-iron in the bag, and when it comes to breakfast Mackenzie Hughes happens to like ketchup with his breakfast sandwich—although personally, I’m anti-ketchup when it comes to breakfast sandwiches.
Mickelson testing older X-Hot 3Deep
We’ve heard rumblings, of Champions Tour terminator Phil Mickelson testing 47.5″ drivers in the name of speed and distance, but as a way to also have a “fairway finder” it appears that he is contemplating putting his old X-Hot 3Deep in play. (Being able to identify a multi-generations old fairway wood from a distance based on its paint scheme is part of the reason we are WRX)
Gary Woodland testing Ping G425 driver
With the launch of the Ping G425 woods on tour a few weeks ago, it’s no surprise to see more players testing them in prep for the Masters, and for the fact that, they are the next evolution of the well-loved Ping G410—Gary Woodland is no exception.
- LIKE41
- LEGIT4
- WOW2
- LOL1
- IDHT3
- FLOP1
- OB1
- SHANK5
GolfWRX is live from the 2020 Zozo Championship, which takes place at Sherwood CC this year following the cancellation of the tour’s Asia swing.
With a loaded field that features Tiger Woods, there is plenty of WITB intrigue, as well as a number of Japanese players, whose setups are always worth taking a look at.
Check out our 12 general galleries and a selection of special collections below, including plenty of Woods, Mickelson, and McIlroy photos.
General galleries
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #1
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #2
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #3
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #4
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #5
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #6
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #7
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #8
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #9
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #10
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #11
- 2020 ZOZO – Tuesday #12
Special galleries
- Tiger Woods
- Phil Mickelson
- Kevin Na’s custom Odyssey “Walk it in” putter cover
- Rory McIlroy
- Fourteen TB-5 irons and RM4 wedges
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
- LIKE11
- LEGIT1
- WOW1
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK2
GolfWRX is live at the relocated 2020 CJ Cup, which is being contested at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas after the COVID-19 pandemic made the PGA Tour’s Asian Swing an impossibility.
Our photo sampling this week includes four general galleries packed with imagery, in-hand looks at the new Ping G425 driver and woods, drool-worthy putters and more.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General galleries
Special galleries
- Ping G425 drivers, fairway woods, hybrid and Crossover – 2020 CJ Cup
- Eye-line’s “Grooved” micro training aid – 2020 CJ Cup
- Cameron putters – 2020 CJ Cup
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2020 CJ Cup
- Dustin Johnson’s custom Super stroke grip – 2020 CJ Cup
- Kevin Kisner with new Callaway X Forged CB irons – 2020 CJ Cup
- Bettinardi putters – 2020 CJ Cup
Join the discussion in the forums.
- LIKE40
- LEGIT3
- WOW3
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK3
The average driving distance for male amateur golfers by age
The average driving distance for male amateur golfers in each handicap range
2020 Best Drivers: A deeper look
Bryson DeChambeau preparing to put 48-inch driver in play
Wunder: Titleist TSi driver first impressions
Ian Poulter repays USGA after U.S. Open locker smash
Costco Kirkland Signature wedge review – GolfWRXers discuss
Bryson DeChambeau’s 48-inch driver set for the Masters; damages car behind range at Shriners
Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2020 U.S. Open (plus an exclusive interview with Cobra’s Ben Schomin)
Sergio Garcia’s winning WITB: 2020 Sanderson Farms Championship
Camilo Villegas WITB (2020 October)
Driver: TaylorMade M4 (10.5 degrees @11.5) Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Yellow 70 6.5 3-wood: TaylorMade M2 2016 (3HL, 16.5 degrees)...
Henrik Stenson WITB (October 2020)
Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Yellow Prototype 6.5 62 3-wood: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero...
WITB GolfWRX Members Edition: Kblahey
Recently we put out the call for our members to submit their WITBs in our forum to be featured on...
Ryan Palmer WITB (October 2020)
Thanks to Ryan Palmer for the photos! Driver: TaylorMade SIM (9 degrees, upright setting) Shaft: Project X HZURDUS Smoke RDX...
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoThe average driving distance for male amateur golfers by age
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoThe average driving distance for male amateur golfers in each handicap range
-
Equipment2 weeks agoCostco Kirkland Signature wedge review – GolfWRXers discuss
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoMatthew Fitzpatrick accuses DeChambeau of ‘making a mockery of the game’; Bryson responds: ‘Hey man, I’d love to help out’
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoTyrrell Hatton’s winning WITB: 2020 BMW PGA Championship
-
Opinion & Analysis1 week agoThe Wedge Guy: Lessons from your glove
-
Equipment2 weeks agoTour Report: Seeding week for Ping G425
-
Equipment3 weeks ago2021 Callaway X Forged CB, UT, and Apex MB irons launched
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.