Equipment
Coming Soon: TaylorMade P-730 MB Irons?
Earlier this week, we spotted TaylorMade’s new P-790 irons, which were being tested as driving irons by Jon Rahm and Jason Day at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. They’re the likely replacements for TaylorMade’s UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron) that was released in 2014, and it’s not a stretch to think that TaylorMade will release a full set of the P-790 to add a longer-flying, more-forgiving option to its new P-700 iron series to market.
Related: Learn more about TaylorMade P-770 and P-750 Irons
Thanks to a social media post from Senior Director of TaylorMade Irons, Tomo Bystedt, we now also know to be on the lookout for another new P-700 series iron set. Bystedt tweeted that Dustin Johnson could soon be making a switch to the company’s new P-730 irons.
#DJ is testing a new set of irons this week. Still a work in progress to dial it in perfectly but we’re getting close. #P730 #TaylorMade #MB pic.twitter.com/8Eh5w0H8rM
— TOMO BYST?DT (@bystedt) August 3, 2017
Johnson also confirmed in a Twitter post that he’s testing the P-730 irons.
Testing some new @TaylorMadeGolf irons today. So pure! pic.twitter.com/R7YqxteJVE
— Dustin Johnson (@DJohnsonPGA) August 2, 2017
The P-730 irons look a lot like the “Rors Proto” and “Rose Proto” irons that are being used on the PGA Tour by Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, which are muscleback irons. That’s a good indication of a potential Johnson switch, as the 2016 U.S. Open Champion has been a steadfast user of TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred MB irons since they were released in 2014. Discussion: See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the P-730 irons.
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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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Justin
Sep 28, 2017 at 5:44 pm
blades this blades that..blah blah blah. Who cares? All forged blades behave nearly identical. Tweak the lie, loft, weight amd use the same shaft youve been using for years and basically youve just managed to spend money for essentially that same stuff you had. Sure they look nice but whats the point? Anything you hit pure will feel like butter. How mich softer can butter be?
Sam
Aug 18, 2017 at 1:41 am
I love that rippled channel and rubbing my finger in it.
stephenf
Aug 19, 2017 at 12:47 am
um…
Sam
Aug 20, 2017 at 1:52 pm
OoOoOoooh …. it feels goood
BV
Aug 22, 2017 at 4:44 pm
Golf club erotica?
mka
Aug 5, 2017 at 10:23 pm
Very nice looking set of blades…they look very much like my old set of MacGregor 985 blades. Timeless classic design, indeed!
BBD
Aug 5, 2017 at 2:43 am
The fact that your attempts at trashing back fails so miserably is precisely what makes you the very female that you say are slagging you off. Sounds like you’re one heck of a girl with nobody’s lap to cry on
Ben Jones
Aug 4, 2017 at 5:26 pm
Just another blade. NO BIG DEAL.
chisag
Aug 4, 2017 at 12:51 pm
Golfers playing old equipment need new clubs every year. New clubs are not made for the “Neurotic gearheads will continue to slobber over new models”. Most are made for golfers playing older equipment that need new clubs. What are those playing MP33’s or 690MB’s that have rusted and worn out their groves supposed to do? Quit playing?
Pigbimpin
Aug 5, 2017 at 10:24 pm
You send them back to The Iron Factory and they come back looking and playing as though they are brand new. I’m still playing 680 mb’s and just had mine refinished; couldn’t be happier!
John
Aug 4, 2017 at 9:44 am
I make that 310 new sets of irons from TM in the last six years.
joe doaks
Aug 5, 2017 at 1:02 pm
How many from Callaway?
Ha
Aug 4, 2017 at 2:31 am
Really, does that channel do anything other than separate the top from the bottom? Why does it have to have such separation in design with any blade? Why not just make the blade a blade and make it all one-slash flat design with no indentation, no channel, no cut muscle, no perimeter edging, but just make it nice and flush flat clean, with just some name graphics.
Jacked_Loft
Aug 5, 2017 at 5:22 am
I would venture to say the removed material from the channel can be redistributed in the head to tweak the COG. Am looking forward to exchanging the 730 short irons for my 7-PW in my existing 770 set.
AussieAussieAussie
Aug 4, 2017 at 2:25 am
It’s a blade. Only so much tech you can have in a blade. For the blade lover these clubs will be eye catching and they will want to test them and put them in play, for guys who don’t like blades, there is nothing to see here. I for one hope they are available soon as I would love to have blades back in the bag and replace the 770s (which are a lovely set of clubs in their own right!)
UnclePhil
Aug 4, 2017 at 1:11 am
Blades shmades, they’re all the same, just get the ball in the hole! Hype Hype Hype!!!
Tom1
Aug 3, 2017 at 11:57 pm
hmmmm…. a channel back with a larger channel
H
Aug 3, 2017 at 8:51 pm
OMG you’re so clueless you’re so not a kind human at all you’re below amoeba, look who’s talking about pathetic why don’t you get back into your mudhole and leave the good people alone
Dude
Aug 3, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Where are the sole and face slots?
golfbum
Aug 3, 2017 at 4:51 pm
Been playing these same design heads for 35 years. It’s a billet of steel smushed into function. KYEOI would be my first thought as to whom is forging these…look at the mp18 and you will see the same look. The more things change in this game the more they stay the same. SHAFTS are what has changed; allowing any player to dial in feel, flight, weight, etc. Grips technology as well.
D
Aug 3, 2017 at 4:19 pm
Idiot. They’re not meant to be SGI. Doh
allan
Aug 3, 2017 at 3:51 pm
its not P-730 its P•730
The Dude
Aug 3, 2017 at 3:08 pm
set up picks??
2putttom
Aug 3, 2017 at 12:38 pm
WOW! No rejection here, I can’t play em’ but WOW!
Dat
Aug 3, 2017 at 11:51 am
Duh. These teasers are getting old. Just release it and see how it plays. It’s been three years or more since their last MB. We all knew this was coming.
golfraven
Aug 3, 2017 at 10:50 am
I would call it predictive mind control. Better get you hard earnd dollars from under the mattress.