Tour News

Tommy Fleetwood is down to his last set of Nike irons

Published

8 years ago

Aug 9, 2018

If you’ve seen any recent Tommy Fleetwood WITBs, you’ve seen Nike VR Pro Blades in the Englishman’s golf bag.

Fleetwood, a Nike staffer, has been working through the sets VR Pros the company made him before it left the hard goods business in 2016.

Now, according to a Golf Channel report, Fleetwood is on his last set of Nike-made clubs. So, while it’s unclear how long the irons will last, it is clear Fleetwood is close to needing replacement weapons.

“It’s not that big a deal if I do happen to break a club this week, then I will be one club down for the week. So I’ll have to be careful. But it’s not like a massive concern.”

Interestingly, Fleetwood damaged the hosels of his 7 and 8-irons at the WGC-Mexico Championship earlier this year, which compelled him to put his last set of irons into the bag at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

While it’s unclear exactly what kind of hosel damage would be irreparable, the point remains: Fleetwood needs to figure out his next move.

He doesn’t seem worried, however.

“Once this set goes, I’ll quite happily change into something else,” he said. “It’s just that I have the ability at the moment to play with a set of irons that I’ve loved and played with for so long. [But] absolutely playing a different set of irons would make life easier in terms of all the trucks that are out on Tour every week, and it’s easier to get one fixed or easy to get one sent out.”

Adding an interesting wrinkle to the story: Fleetwood’s countryman and former Nike staffer, Paul Casey, has a new set of VR Pro Blades in his possession, which he is unwilling to part with.

Per a PGA Tour report, Fleetwood said

“[Paul’s] got a brand new set and he won’t give them to me. Shame on Paul. He’s pretty set in his ways, so I don’t think I’ll be getting those.”

Casey, for his part, said, “They are as rare as rocking horse poo. And I will not sell them to him. Or put it this way, he hasn’t offered me enough money. They look beautiful, by the way, and I haven’t used them. They’re the kind of clubs you could hang on the wall. I love the fact that Tommy is running around telling everybody. But I haven’t found any gifts in my locker or handwritten notes. He’s gotta try harder.”

Regardless of whether he can purchase Paul Casey’s irons, Fleetwood will soon need new weaponry. Maybe he’ll give Mike Taylor and Artisan a call? Or maybe he’ll opt for one of the major OEMs and the associated convenience of a tour truck?

We’ll keep an eye on the World No. 11’s bag.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

21 Comments

Pingback: Tommy Fleetwood WITB 2022 (February) | GolfTechie
Pingback: Tommy Fleetwood WITB 2022 (February) – GolfWRX
Jumbo

Oct 26, 2021 at 10:53 pm

HIs game hasn’t been the same since switching. These are great irons. The grove pattern works well and is consistent all the way to the lob wedge. Too bad Nike got out of the club business.

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Pingback: Tommy Fleetwood WITB 2021 (October) – GolfWRX
Pingback: Tommy Fleetwood WITB 2021 (October) | GolfTechie
Tomtom

Aug 10, 2018 at 11:00 pm

My money is on Tommy moving to TaylorMade and playing their blade irons, like someone else we all know.

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Deano

Aug 10, 2018 at 6:12 pm

Here in Australia you can still buy new VR Pro iron 4-PW from Golf World it seems.

https://www.golfworld.com.au/nike-vr-forged-pro-combo-irons-4-pw

Price is $649 with R or S flex.

So if he wants them he can buy a few sets and replace the shafts to suit. Only has to get them shipped out by express courier like DHL or FedEx. Can’t be too hard.

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ChuckZ

Aug 10, 2018 at 12:08 pm

I can see the price going up on eBay waiting to hear from Tommy. They are out there for practically nothing. I checked the other day when I saw his comments. Nike got out of the manufacturing business for a reason, but he plays rather well with them. Love his game, think he is an awesome person and wish him well. Maybe his is just looking for a free set?????

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John

Aug 9, 2018 at 5:36 pm

Isn’t it obvious? After this season, Tommy’s gonna be a wrx’er. we’ll be seeing him in the BST forums soon enough.

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Deano Bravo

Aug 9, 2018 at 5:22 pm

The bottom of the article gives the answer. Nike ckubmakers are bow working as Artisan golf.

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Tom

Aug 9, 2018 at 1:24 pm

Endo forged “open model” anyone in the industry knows that.

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Scott Francis

Aug 9, 2018 at 12:59 pm

Exactly I heard this during presser and first thing I thougth was “ebay”????

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C

Aug 9, 2018 at 12:59 pm

He’ll find some if he wants them bad enough. Gotta be out there. I’ve seen pictures of what was next from Nike and tgr had a special set without swoosh’s on them. Basically if he wants them bad enough they will be found.

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ND Hickman

Aug 9, 2018 at 12:23 pm

Points to Paul Casey for the excellent trolling.

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steve

Aug 9, 2018 at 12:05 pm

Notice that the ‘muscleback’ portion goes higher up putting more mass and CoG higher up in the face. This is what he is sensitive to in this particular club design…. the lowered trajectory and reduced spin.

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Jim McPherson

Aug 9, 2018 at 11:33 am

eBay?

Reply Report comment
Michael Constantine

Aug 9, 2018 at 10:47 am

This is absurd. I can send in my irons to be completely refinsihed and set to essentially brand new but T Fleetwood can’t? It’s simple. Let’s not make a big deal out of something that doesn’t have to be.

Reply Report comment
- Ns
  
  Aug 9, 2018 at 11:43 am
  
  But refinishing means they won’t be the same, original coating, it’ll have somebody else’s coating. And the grooves may not come out correctly to the original specs, and if they are off, they may not perform the same, and the Pros don’t want to mess with what they already know and love in the original version nor take that risk
  
  Reply Report comment
RocketBall

Aug 9, 2018 at 10:31 am

I’m down to my last pair of Hane’s but you don’t see me complaining.

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DaveyD

Aug 9, 2018 at 10:30 am

Let the bidding begin!

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predictable

Aug 9, 2018 at 10:10 am

In before we get the traditional “THEY’RE ENDO FORGED” comments

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