Equipment
Spotted: Tiger Woods testing a TaylorMade Ardmore 3 putter (updated w/ in-hand pics)
Using the Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS, which he’s won 13-of-14 majors with in his career, Tiger Woods is 89th in Strokes Gained: Putting in 2018. He’s also T37 (28.59) in putts per round and 118th in Total Putting. Not good.
With putting stats that poor midway through the season, it’s no wonder why Tiger was spotted on Tuesday at the 2018 Quicken Loans National testing out a new putter; it’s a TaylorMade TP Black Copper Ardmore 3. This is also one of the few times throughout his career that Tiger is testing a mallet putter, or a putter with an insert. From the photos, it appears Tiger has 2.5 gram weights on the toe and heel sole ports.
Check out photos below of the Ardmore 3 putter, and click here for more photos and discussion.
Click here for more photos and discussion.
Listen below for further speculation on Tiger’s testing.
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Whats in the Bag
Kevin Tway WITB 2024 (May)
- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Did Rory McIlroy inspire Shane Lowry’s putter switch?
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Peter Boz
Jul 21, 2018 at 11:15 pm
Does not matter which putter he uses. His career is over. I heard he may join the Navy Seals after all.
sandy1966
Aug 5, 2018 at 8:29 pm
I agree new putter will never help, maybe he should try Web.com tour…
Ryan Michael
Jun 28, 2018 at 10:32 pm
Only Tiger knows what is best for Tiger but if anybody here has 15 plus majors I’m sure he’ll be glad to take your advice!
faq
Jun 28, 2018 at 3:40 pm
HALLELUJAH !!!! Tiger been resurrected!!!! Praise be to TM Ardmore 3 !!!!
orangeology
Jun 28, 2018 at 1:28 pm
as of 120pm Thu, TT just confirmed that the Scotty is in the bag. it was a TM marketing gesture after all. #scottyorbust
orangeology
Jun 28, 2018 at 1:33 pm
never mind, my bad misleading. TT meant Don Cameron himself. not the putter. he seems with the mallet.
Kevin Arnold
Jun 27, 2018 at 9:14 pm
It’s the Twin Pod Cloud Car…..Empire Strikes Back….Taylor Made R&D is up to date on their Star Wars knockoffs.
Dennis Clark
Jun 27, 2018 at 7:58 pm
If the stroke has changed and the new putter fits the new stroke, great idea. If lack of confidence is the problem, not sure it will help. I hope it does. He’s the best pressure putter Ive ever seen…
ben jones
Jun 27, 2018 at 6:22 pm
#7 kicked my Scotty out of the bag. Much easier to putt with and with more confidence. Also, I didn’t have to bend over to pick up the ball. Saving my back.
A. Nal
Jun 27, 2018 at 4:40 pm
Would drive me crazy to look at a banged up putter head. Surprised he doesn’t take better care of the putter.
ogo
Jun 27, 2018 at 3:48 pm
Perusing the top view of the putter, I bet that fanged flange has been sized to easily scoop up the ball…. without Tiger having to bend over and strain his wonky back… to pick up the ball on the green when conceding the hole.
f3h
Jun 27, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Looking at the amount of wear on that putter, this testing has been going on for quite some time
ogo
Jun 27, 2018 at 3:44 pm
If Tiger rejects the TaylorMade TP Black Copper Ardmore 3 and reverts back to his old trusty Scotty, that will destroy the marketability of the TM putter. Seems he will have to play the Ardmore to support his sponsor – TM.
The Dude
Jun 27, 2018 at 7:44 pm
haha…..stupid
dlygrisse
Jun 27, 2018 at 1:52 pm
Surprised that he went with a site line on the flange as opposed to a dot on the top rail. That is a huge difference visually! Then again maybe that is what he is going for, drastic change in order to reboot.
Chuck Barkley
Jun 27, 2018 at 4:47 am
Ooooooooooh!!! Now who’s nutty for suggesting Eldrick consider game improvement equipment?! Wasn’t it moi that got bashed around here for suggesting that the former and never again great one make a move towards GI gear? Irons are NEXT!! Put the blades away dude, you do not have the precision to manage those either! I saw this coming 20 minutes ago! Soon to be 43 dawg, the game is moving down the tracks with or without your blades, or the GI putter.
Matty
Jun 27, 2018 at 12:24 pm
obviously you have not been watching him play lately, not to many people striking the ball better than he is with blades…………… however, a new putter and some confidence with it, not a bad idea….
Chuck Barkley
Jun 27, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Oh jeez, here we go with the “You obviously have not been watching him play lately……bla bla bla,” nonsense! Did you add your Joe Buck, Mr. Radio Deep Voice when you wrote that? Next you’ll be making excuses when he dons the latest GI irons from TM. You guys crack me up with your Die Hard love of the former great one!
Dude is trying to WIN, not be leader in greens in regulation! WAKE UP ELDRICK fans!!
Chuck Barkley
Jun 27, 2018 at 2:30 pm
My radio voice to Matty; Uhhhhh…….he’s really a leader in ball striking with blades?! Lol! To use your intro; “obviously you missed the US Open and his missed cut!!
The Truth
Jun 27, 2018 at 12:35 pm
You Sir are an Idiot
Alex
Jun 26, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Whoever had the idea of showing Tiger putters at Taylormade needs to be fired immediately.
Travis
Jun 26, 2018 at 4:35 pm
He needs to change something on the greens. Do you want to be remembered by the iconic Scotty of the past, or how many Majors you win by the end of it?
His ball striking has been so phenomenal in his return, but his putting has arguably cost him two wins this season already. Something HAS to change for him, good move!
dat
Jun 26, 2018 at 2:56 pm
Change was desperately needed. He hung up the rest of that lifestyle (afaik) and needed to hang the ol’ Scotty up as well.
roger
Jun 26, 2018 at 2:36 pm
Tiger Testing 1-2-3 …. Tiger Testing 1-2-3 …. Tiger Testing 1-2-3
PJ
Jun 26, 2018 at 1:58 pm
Good move!
Dr Troy
Jun 26, 2018 at 1:52 pm
Hell hath frozen over
Chuck Barkley
Jun 27, 2018 at 4:48 am
And the pigs are flyin’