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Daniel Berger notches top-10 finish with 9-year-old TaylorMade irons

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Editor’s note: TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC irons were released in late 2011 for the 2012 season. We’re choosing the release year in dating the clubs. 

Golfers love to talk about new gear, but like with classic cars, it’s hard not to take notice when a classic piece of equipment shows up in a player’s bag—especially on the PGA Tour.

At the Waste Management Phoenix Open, former Callaway staff member and 2015 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Daniel Berger went back to a nine-year-old (in golf years that’s ancient) set of 2011 TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC irons—and recorded a top 10 at TPC Scottsdale.

From pictures on the range at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the rest of Berger’s bag consisted of a Callaway Epic Flash driver and fairway woods, Callaway Apex 3-iron, Callaway MD4 wedges, and an Odyssey putter—no word on his ball of choice at this time.

It’s not uncommon to see a player go back to a comfortable set of clubs, especially irons, but to see a player go this far back is more unusual. The only other recent example would be Steve Stricker going back to a much older set of Titleist 755’s. The big difference, from what we can tell, is Berger’s set appears to be NOS (new old stock) and a recently built set, based on their condition.

When talking to those in “the know,” the 2011 TaylorMade Tour Preferred series of irons—including the MB, MC, and CB’s—were some of the best irons ever made by the Carlsbad-based OEM (I will personally admit to owning two sets of the MC’s and an MB set).

The distinct design feature of the 2011 Tour Preferred MC CB irons was the weight screw in the back of the head that kept mass centered right behind the sweet spot of each head. This feature, something we have seen before and that continues to this day from other OEMs, allows for precise controlling of head weight without altering the CG to maximize performance.

We don’t know if these irons will be a mainstay for the rest of the season for Mr. Berger, but it is going to be something interesting to follow over the next few weeks.

 

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Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. Pingback: Daniel Berger WITB 2021 (September) | GolfTechie

  2. Pingback: Daniel Berger WITB 2021 (September) – GolfWRX

  3. Pingback: Ryder Cup WITBs: U.S. team | GolfTechie

  4. Pingback: Ryder Cup WITBs: U.S. team – GolfWRX

  5. Hjjv

    Feb 15, 2021 at 8:19 pm

    I play with myself

  6. Pingback: Daniel Berger’s winning WITB: 2021 AT&T Pro-Am | GolfTechie

  7. Pingback: Daniel Berger’s winning WITB: 2021 AT&T Pro-Am – GolfWRX

  8. Steve C

    Feb 6, 2020 at 10:54 am

    I’m surprised the golf manufacturers would allow a story like this to be printed.

  9. Kingsley Barry Adams jr

    Feb 4, 2020 at 5:36 pm

    My irons are 15 years old and my putter is almost 60 years old

  10. DJ

    Feb 4, 2020 at 10:25 am

    I’m still playing Bridgestone J40 DPC’s that originally came out in 2012. I have gone through two full sets (4-PW) and a couple extra 6 irons. I have one more set of them left. I have switched shafts a few times – from the original project X flighted to the PXI, then tried AMT White, but now on the Project X LZ. Finally got the perfect shafts.

  11. Gunter Eisenberg

    Feb 4, 2020 at 8:47 am

    That goes to show you that in the hands of a skilled golfer, he/she can perform with any club regardless of its age.

  12. Dan

    Feb 4, 2020 at 6:34 am

    Adam Scott (OWGR #15) is still using Titleist 680MB irons released in 2003!

  13. Fred

    Feb 3, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    I am still playing with my clubs from 1984 and I use my dad’s putter from the 1950’s. I did replace my persimmon woods a few years ago.

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Whats in the Bag

Michael Block WITB 2024 (May)

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  • Michael Block what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship.

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 “Dot” (9 degrees @7.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @14.25)
Shaft: 2024 Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X

5-wood: TaylorMade M5 (19 degrees @17)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 70 TX

Irons: TaylorMade Stealth UDI (4), TaylorMade Proto (5-9)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI Hybrid 85 X (4), Project X 6.5 (5-9)

Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 (46-09SB, 60 [unconfirmed]), TaylorMade Milled Grind 2 (52-09S, 56)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

See the rest of Michael Block’s WITB in the forums.

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Whats in the Bag

Brooks Koepka WITB 2024 (May)

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  • Brooks Koepka what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship.

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 “Dot” (10.5 degrees @9.75)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D Limited 60 TX (44.5 inches, tipped 1 inch)

3-wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Nike Vapor Pro (3), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-9)
Shaft: Fujikura Pro Tour Spec 95 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore Tour Rack Raw (46-10 Mid), RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (52-10 Mid, 56-10 Mid, 60-6 Low)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (46), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (52-60)

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5.5

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord (Midsize)

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Check out more in-hand photos of Brooks Koepka’s clubs here.

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/13/24): Full set of ‘Tiger Slam’ clubs

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a full set of ‘Tiger Slam’ clubs.

From the seller: (@CaymanS): “During the year of recovery from leg surgery that never quite healed, I was bored.  One thing led to another, and I ended up gradually building/acquiring the individual pieces to complete a set of “Tiger Slam” clubs.  They are what Tiger played to win 4 consecutive majors, which nobody has ever done.  This is not an exact replica of course, but something close that fit me to play a few times per year and experience what Tiger did.  But my bad leg, 4 shoulder tears, and age prevents me from the ball-striking needed to enjoy these to their fullest.  They may not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially since the driver and fairway shafts are regular flex and most players good enough to play these will need to change them, but it’s not a perfect world.  I am not a historian on this stuff, but my research indicates these are the same models Tiger used, with slightly different specs to fit me.

Full set $1,600, or…

…a donation for a Pro Kids fundraiser, or…

Driver: $70

Fairway: $250

Irons: $1,100

Wedges: $100

Putter: $350″

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Full set of ‘Tiger Slam’ clubs

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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