Equipment
Miura Golf’s buyer revealed
The official Miura-related announcement you’ve been waiting for: Billionaire investor, banking magnate, and golf enthusiast Howard Milstein has acquired global rights to distribute Miura Golf equipment.
We broke the news of Miura’s sale earlier this month, and new company president Hoyt McGarity told us the company’s trademark quality and pricing will remain consistent under the new ownership.
Milstein and family have acquired a majority interest in distribution rights, according to a press release, which also officially confirms Hoyt McGarity, founder and CEO of TrueSpec will serve as company president.
“We are excited to announce this new partnership and new chapter in Miura Golf’s storied history,” Milstein said. “We believe that Miura, with its decades-old reputation as perhaps the world’s finest designer and manufacturer of forged clubs, represents an ideal partner in the golf equipment category and is a tremendous fit with our company.”
Milstein is Chairman, President and CEO of New York Private Bank & Trust — the nation’s largest privately owned, family-run bank — and its operating bank, Emigrant Bank. Also a successful real estate investor, Milstein is perhaps most interesting for our purposes as the business partner of Jack Nicklaus and the Nicklaus family since 2007.
Also interesting: It appears the two golf companies under Milstein’s charge will be working together in some capacity, a story we will continue to follow.
“We focused on strategic opportunities and aligning ourselves with likeminded partners and companies that mirror the high standards long established by Jack and his company,” Milstein said. “Miura Golf is such a company, and we are pleased and proud to announce this partnership.”
Founded in 1957, Katsuhiro Miura’s company has been making handcrafted forged irons of the highest quality for 50 years. According to the company, professional golfers have won several major championships using its clubs, specifically its forged players irons, without endorsement contracts. The company has also produced forged irons for major OEMs.
Once the undisputed leader in the ultra-premium equipment space, billionaire Bob Parsons-owned PXG has fired a shot across the company’s bow, cutting into market share over the past three years. Now, it would seem, Miura is equipped with similar firepower.
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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.
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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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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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Jim
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:58 pm
It appears to be merely a distribution deal.
http://miuragolf.com/Miura-Milstein.pdf
Eric
Jan 25, 2017 at 2:46 pm
How are they gonna spell Miura incorrectly in its own press release *smh*
Jim
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Must agree with Mark – “Muira Golf’s buyer revealed” and “acquired global rights to distribute Miura Golf equipment” are, to me, not one and the same thing.
Will the company (Miura) that manufactures the highly sought-after irons change in any way? Or have they (Katsuhiro Miura & sons) merely sold the global distribution rights to Mr. Milstein?
ButchT
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:37 pm
Until you can finance PXG or Miura irons like a home or car, I am out of their market!
Shallowface
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:38 am
Looking forward to seeing a set of Jack Nicklaus Miurafield irons.
Mark
Jan 25, 2017 at 11:04 am
Clever.
Mark
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:49 am
“Muira Golf’s buyer revealed” and “acquired global rights to distribute Miura Golf equipment” are, to me, not one and the same thing. Please clarify. Has Milstein bought the company or has he just acquired the global distribution rights?
JThunder
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:45 am
Another smaller company bought by a billionaire. Just what the world needs.
S Hitter
Jan 24, 2017 at 9:50 pm
That would be 60 years, mate. Can you do maths?