Equipment
CJ Cup Tour Truck Report: New Callaway irons (and prototypes) in play, Rory in Fuji Ventus Black 6 X, new putter for Bubba
Here’s what I’m hearing from my sources inside the trucks at Shadow Creek.
Callaway
Kevin Kisner is now in the new X Forged CB (5-9). Nippon Pro Modus3 120 TX.
Alex Noren switched into a new Mavrik Sub Zero Triple Diamond (9 degrees). Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 60 TX shaft. His start line changed a touch and downrange dispersion was tighter. On the lower fairway finding shot, the spin came down about 500 RPM.
Xander Schauffele: New irons and shafts (Apex Pro ’21 Prototypes) in the bag this week going from the True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 into the Nippon Pro Modus3 130 X. Xander was looking for a more launch out of his longer clubs (which improved dramatically) all while maintaining the current spin profile and not tweaking loft.
Marc Leishman: Switching to a Triple Track Double Wide Flow putter this week.
Ping
G425 tour seeding in progress…full report coming Friday…stay tuned.
Bubba Watson and Cam Champ will be gaming new unreleased Ping PLD Anser and Anser 2 Prototype Putters. After missing the cut last week, Champ left early Monday morning (4 a.m. from Vegas) headed to Ping HQ in Phoenix to test some new heads. Always loving the Anser neck and a mallet-style head, he found a middle ground with the new prototype after a few hours of testing with the tour team. By Tuesday morning, Cam was back in Vegas and the new blade was in the bag.
TaylorMade
Rory McIlroy: To no one’s surprise, Rory made the switch into the Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X in his driver. The lower-lofted 10.5-degree head is set at 8 degrees (45.5, D3, Golf Pride BCT 58R grip, 59.5-degree lie, 2-degree sleeve)
Jason Day switched back to his trusty P760 irons (4-PW) after a brief (one week) run with TM’s new P7MB.
Collin Morikawa: Testing and may switch into TaylorMade’s new FCG putter.
Spider FCG:
Hosel: Short Slant
Alignment: No line
Length: 34.25”
Lie: 69.5°
Loft: 2.5°
SW: D4
Grip: TaylorMade Red Cap
Shaft: KBS CT Tour
Titleist
Jimmy Walker (not in the field) is testing a T100 4-iron as well as testing a new TSi3 driver with a Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X (@45.75 inches). This would be an increase of an inch from his previous spec. Walker also shot a 61 at home with the new Pro V1 in the bag.
Justin Thomas will have a 9 degree TSi3 driver in the bag with the new Mitsubishi Diamana TB 60 TX shaft.
Free Agents
Tommy Fleetwood is testing the new Titleist TSi2 3-wood (15 degrees @14.25; flat; C1 SureFit setting) with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X shaft. Sources indicate he will put it in play. His trusty TaylorMade M6 finally gave out to a cracked face. Fairway Jesus is also most likely putting the new Titleist Pro V1 in play.
Justin Rose: Testing TSi3 but will most likely not have it in play this week.
Matthew Fitzpatrick: Also testing TSi2 3 wood and will most likely put it in play.
Shane Lowry: The Srixon staffer finally swapped out his trusty TaylorMade M4 3-wood and will most likely have the SIM in the bag this week fully equipped with a Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X shaft.
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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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delbert
Oct 15, 2020 at 8:29 pm
This website is not secure. Beware!
User Experience Expert
Oct 15, 2020 at 2:31 pm
Way too many pop ups and adds when viewing these pages. Over the last year the user experience has really gone downhill. Please get away from this click bait crap. Please get rid of Taboola links.
LL
Oct 15, 2020 at 10:29 am
Any chance that PING prototype Anser mallet will come out on the market? Looks amazing!
phizzy
Oct 15, 2020 at 7:33 am
I have the Ventus black 7x in my SIM Max and it’s a beast. I figured Rory would eventually put it in play considering how high his launch angle and spin normally are. I know he was gaming the Tensei AV raw orange in his last tournament. I guess the ventus black gave him better numbers. Anyways, I can’t wait to see him play at Shadow Creek which one of my favorite exclusive courses I’ve played at.
JD
Oct 14, 2020 at 11:19 pm
I saw a picture of Rory’s driver today and it was marked 7X. But maybe that won’t be the one he puts in play?
Ty Webb
Oct 14, 2020 at 11:09 pm
What are the Pro ‘21 prototypes in Xander’s bag?
Cody
Oct 14, 2020 at 10:41 pm
I like this one Johnny, well done.
It’s like a weather report. Or traffic report haha.
Chris
Oct 14, 2020 at 10:26 pm
Assuming Rory is using a TX and not an X shaft, right?
John Wunder
Oct 14, 2020 at 10:34 pm
Fuji doesn’t do TX in Ventus
Graham
Oct 14, 2020 at 9:52 pm
This column needs to keep happening.
John Wunder
Oct 14, 2020 at 10:31 pm
It will