Equipment
Rory McIlroy to use a TaylorMade Spider Tour putter at the U.S. Open
Update (June 14): McIlroy confirmed that he will use a TaylorMade Spider Tour putter at the U.S. Open at Erin Hills.
After Rory McIlroy signed with TaylorMade in early May, he was using 13-of-14 TaylorMade clubs as he opted to stick with an Odyssey prototype putter. But there were rumors circulating that he was testing out a TaylorMade Spider Tour Red putter.
When McIlroy showed up to the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills on Monday, he had only one putter in his bag: a TaylorMade Spider Tour Red putter. Unlike the “Jason Day” version of the putter, however, McIlroy’s is stamped “Rors” in lime green lettering on the sole, and more importantly, it has a black sight line on the crown of the putter.
During his experimental phase with the Spider putters, McIlroy told Golf Digest that he wanted to try his with different face inserts than the soft, Pure Roll Surlyn insert that Day employs in his flat stick, and McIlroy also wanted a line on top of the putter for improved alignment. For comparison, McIlroy’s putter is pictured on the left and Day’s is on the right.
Rory McIlroy’s Spider (Left) vs. Jason Day’s
“I’ve hit a few putts with it,” McIlroy said. “They made one up for me, it’s the red one with a black line on top. DJ and Jason Day don’t have alignment aids on theirs, but the reason I went to a mallet at the end of last year was that having a line that I felt helped me aim better. When you put the Spider down it gives you a great visual of where you’re aiming. I do want to try a couple of different inserts and faces to get something that feels a little closer to what I’m used to [McIlroy prefers a firmer feel]. I like how it swings and even hitting one off center, it doesn’t seem to lose a lot of its energy, so I’m trying it out. It’s not in the bag yet. We’ll see where it goes from here.”
McIlroy’s Spider Tour Red putter is also outfitted with a black Winn Pistol putter grip.
Discussion: See what GolfWRX members are saying about Rory’s putter in our forums
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Whats in the Bag
Matthieu Pavon WITB 2024 (May)
- Pavon’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
3-wood: Ping G430 LST (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Ping i230 (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: Ping Si59 (52-12S, 58-8B)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Ping Cadence TR Tomcat C
Grip: SuperStroke Claw 1.0P
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Pavon’s gear here.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tommy Fleetwood’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Prototype putter
Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.
This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.
Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.
The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.
Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
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Equipment
Club Junkie WITB, league night week 4: Some old, some new
We enter week 4 of Thursday night men’s league feeling a little more confident in the game. BK is hoping to go a little lower and reduce the mistakes out there with these clubs in the bag. Watch the video for the full breakdown of why these clubs are getting the starting nod this week!
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 63 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Lin-Q M40X TSPX Blue 7F5
7-wood: Ping G430 Max (-1 degree, flat Ssetting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 S
Iron: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 4
Shaft: Aerotech Steelfiber hls880 S
Irons: PXG 0317 Tour (5-PW)
Shaft: LA Golf A-Series 105 Low (4)
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50-08F)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Dart V 105 F4 Wedge
Wedge: Ping S159 (56-10H)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Wedge: Ping S159 (60-08B)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Putter: PXG Battle Ready II Brandon
Shaft: BGT Stability Tour Spec One
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
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Jon
Jun 19, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Well, now that the “Big 3” using Spider Tour putters (DJ, Rory, Day) missed the cut at U.S. Open, maybe TM can be convinced to lower the price on this thing? …Not.
Philly Mick
Jun 15, 2017 at 9:38 pm
Rory couldn’t make a putt today or find a fairway with even a 3 wood. Taylor Made inferior performing products, struggled to find the 70 yard fairways today or make putts. Rory, you may want to call Titleist back so you can win another major.
jgpl001
Jun 14, 2017 at 5:08 pm
I will watch with interest…
He is a terrible putter, so this can’t make him worse
Jacked_Loft
Jun 14, 2017 at 11:11 am
If another player wins a major with this putter I think Scotty will start tearing his hair out.
George
Jun 14, 2017 at 10:00 am
Lexi needs one of thes – maybe she can get a blue one
Jonathan Damoante
Jun 14, 2017 at 1:48 am
Love that grip on my odyssey 9
Phil
Jun 13, 2017 at 1:52 pm
At least he’s fully committed to selling out.
nick
Jun 12, 2017 at 6:56 pm
OK, TM is salivating here as they are getting ready to announce the “NEW Spider Limited RORS Edition.” The next line of “limited” releases from the ever growing Spider family.
each Itsy Bitsy SL has been sold at $299 – i say the RORS goes for $349.
Andrew Rivera
Jun 14, 2017 at 9:16 am
I’m surprised they didn’t paint it blue and charge $500
McPickens
Jun 14, 2017 at 10:06 pm
That version will be released in time for Christmas sales and will retail @ $750
Barry
Jun 12, 2017 at 6:42 pm
Rors? More like “Bores”
Looper
Jun 12, 2017 at 10:17 pm
Wouldn’t you like to be him!!!