Equipment
Tour Insider: Tiger will rethink his bag (and 3 other equipment predictions for 2021)
1. Free agents are here to stay
More free agency. It’s become something we have seen more and more as each year passes. The day of the long-term big-money contract is dying away. NOW, it’s not to say the model is dead. There will be plenty of big-name stars who ink multi-million dollar contracts, but the appeal of freedom—especially for the player is the 35-45-year-old range—will be way more of a thing than it ever was.
You can thank Tiger for this. The reason being, prize money is through the roof. The necessity to have a club financial buffer doesn’t outweigh the risk of it going awry. What good is $150,000 per year from an OEM if you can’t make a cut?
The OEMs are seeing this too. To be honest, it means more for validation in some cases if a guy puts a club in play who doesn’t get paid than the other way around. Take Titleist and the TSi for example, how many top name players had it in play who were not getting paid to play it.
This week at the DP World Championship in Dubai for starters, Titleist doesn’t pay any of the below, but the free exposure in the hands of Fleetwood or Reed says a lot to the quality of the product. Point is, if it’s good, players like Fleetwood, Reed, Casey, Rose, Horschel, Koepka, and Fitzpatrick can call on the reps, get it in the bag and nobody gets to whine about it.
Patrick Reed (TSi3 9*)
Tommy Fleetwood (TSi3 9*)
Matt Fitzpatrick (TSi3 9*)
Thomas Pieters (TSi2 10*)
Marcus Kinhult (TSi3 10*)
Branden Grace (TSi3 9*)
Joost Luiten (TSi3 9*)
Kalle Samooja (TSi3 10.5*)
The poster boy for free agency is Koepka. Not only is he a free agent, but he continues to be after three majors and a truckload of money waiting for him if he wants it. So why not take it? Freedom and self-belief, basically. Players like BK will bet on themselves 12 times out of 10. So keep an eye out for more big names to go this way, not overnight, but you’ll see more black Vessel bags than you ever have.
2. More two-driver setups
Yes. Get used to it. I honestly see a ton of players testing this theory out on the west coast. If someone wins, it’ll be a serious thing at Augusta. A 47-inch missile launcher, 44.5-inch bb gun, and a 4 wood. So long 3-wood, folks. It actually makes a ton of sense for any players in the high 170+ ball speed category, where having a club that gets you to the high 180s on command is a serious weapon. If you cant out muscle Bryson, might as well take your chances with a bigger stick.
3. Tiger Woods will rethink his bag
Driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, 3-PW, 56, 60. Over and over for years and years. That’s the set makeup of Tiger’s bag. However, the one thing Tiger is not afraid of is knowing his limitations, and at this point in his career, he will have to start thinking about things in a totally different way.
In my opinion, it’s going to be something at the top of his iron set. 3 and 4-iron may go to a cavity back for more height. We may see a 7-wood, and a blind prediction would be adding a fourth wedge….that’s right. TW with a 52.
Call me crazy, it’s a just a hunch, but if a bag shakeup was going to happen, it will happen now. Granted to add a wedge, he might need to rethink the lofts on his irons. Will it happen? Who knows. I’m basing this whole theory on my following Tiger since junior golf and knowing his ability to accept change when change is needed. Basically, he’s stubborn about these things—until he’s not.
He still has plenty of gas left in the tank to win, but to compete through the air, he may have to look at the bag a bit. If I’m right, it’ll break the (golf equipment) net.
4. This will be the key driver battle
The whole town is on fire in the driver category. At this point, I’ve seen it all, and without giving away anything, I’ll say this: There will not be a clear cut best driver like we had in 2020. SIM dominated everything and rightly so, it was hands down the best stick. 2021 will be a bit different. Not only is TaylorMade bringing a serious hammer, but the rest of the market is following suit.
If anyone has a slight advantage, it’s Titleist having gotten to market first with their best offering maybe ever, but make no mistake, the rest of the OEMs have serious metal hitting early 2021, and in my opinion, the company that wins will be the one that conveys the best story, educates the masses, and pumps content into the atmosphere. These days, having a good product and telling a great story are both necessary. Let the games begin!
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- 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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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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Delbert
Dec 15, 2020 at 10:02 pm
Why Wunder? LOL! Tiger should go with Ping. Enough said.
Dyson Bochambeau
Dec 14, 2020 at 10:52 pm
This wunder guy is a tool
delbert
Dec 12, 2020 at 10:25 pm
When Tiger changes his ego, the bag set up will change and he will win big.
HKO
Dec 12, 2020 at 9:57 pm
wait. so the prediction on tiger’s bag was based on Wunder’s arse? what a bait…
John Wunder
Dec 13, 2020 at 9:55 am
It’s a prediction. Just my opinion on what I think could happen. Supposed to be fun no?
ChristianR
Dec 12, 2020 at 6:30 am
mmm…that thing of the two drivers is an hot topic but I’m wondering why they cannot simply stick to a 3 wood considering at that speeds they are anyway around 300yds, and lot more control and shot shaping.
Todd S
Dec 11, 2020 at 11:09 pm
hey johnny, you mention free agents using titelist tsi driver, but which driver is most popualar on tour amongst those not paid to play? My money is on Ping…thoughts or stats to back it up?
John Wunder
Dec 13, 2020 at 9:58 am
Hard to say as free agent would mean a FREE bag 100. Koepka TM Fleetwood TSi Reed TSi Rose TM Fitz TSi Sergio TM Casey TM Horschel TSi and the use if TSi was to explain free exposure not that its the go to.
Alex Howe
Dec 11, 2020 at 10:22 pm
SIM as the best driver hands down last year? Ummm
matt
Dec 11, 2020 at 6:15 pm
I really can’t believe Tiger still carries that 3 iron. I mean its ridiculous, he’s playing a game that doesn’t exist anymore, i could understand if he ever hit it off the tee, but when’s the last time you saw that?
The two drivers thing is very real. I remember chuckling at Phil when he did it at the US Open (which one was it again). But it just makes a lot of sense, 3 woods are really hard to justify when you could go this route and pop in a 4w like you say. DJ has officially brought back a limited wedge set as far as I’m concerned. Get a nice versatile lob wedge, one you like in bunkers and can hit distance wedges with. Then go get something in the 53-56 degree range. Learn to feel your distances. This isn’t for everyone, but I think I’m this kind of golfer. It just so happens to open up a spot in the bag too.
Rory
Dec 11, 2020 at 8:54 pm
Tigers 3 iron loft is pretty close to most other guys 4 iron loft.
stephen
Dec 12, 2020 at 11:26 pm
Rory hits a 3 iron
Speedy
Dec 11, 2020 at 5:30 pm
It ain’t the arrow.
matt
Dec 13, 2020 at 9:26 am
Rory dropped the bladed 3 iron for something with launch assistance.. P770ish type club. If Rory wanted to carry one that’s fine, Rory has tons more speed than Tiger. DJ carries a blade 3 iron I think, again he’s one of the rare guys who is a terrific striker with massive speed. Tiger was obviously once that guy, but those days are long gone.
The loft point is valid though.. still think that club needs to go though.
Brandon
Dec 11, 2020 at 5:10 pm
What color is the top of the Sim 2?
Travis
Dec 11, 2020 at 3:52 pm
He definitely will never change the bottom of his bag. He has decades of feel with those wedges. Adding a 52* and changing his PW would do nothing but force him to re-feel different lofts and shots. He would have to have mounds of data showing his proximity is significantly worse when using a weak PW versus a 46/52 or 48/52 setup.
Tiger will also never change to CB irons. He’s said time and time again he both trusts and likes the look of blades. He won’t be able to have confidence in a CB iron the same way.
However, he’s been on record to say he’d have no problem adding a 7W when the time is right. I specifically remember an interview with him years and years and years ago where he said he added the 5W because he couldn’t really hit his 2-iron the way he wanted to anymore. In that interview he said, when he feels he can’t hit the 3-iron anymore, he’ll add a 7W, then a 9W, etc.
E
Dec 11, 2020 at 2:51 pm
why would Tiger add a 52* when his PW is 49*/50*?? makes no sense
John Wunder
Dec 11, 2020 at 2:57 pm
If you read the whole article, you’ll see I try to explain what might happen…its just a theory.
Gianni still sucks
Dec 11, 2020 at 4:19 pm
Your theory sucks, just like your articles. This is just keyboard conversation, acting like it’s an inside tip.
John Wunder
Dec 13, 2020 at 10:01 am
There’s my Troll!!!!! Wouldnt be an article without yah. God bless.
CT
Dec 14, 2020 at 9:20 am
I would take this with a grain of salt. He thinks a lot of things suck. I’m sure he’s a gem on the golf course too.
Eric Draven
Dec 11, 2020 at 8:46 pm
Tiger is still by far the best player in the world 5 Iron down, it’s not even close. His distance control is impeccable so why would he change the wedge setup? And just because you’re here on the west coast doesn’t mean you have any idea what you’re talking about bruh.
John Wunder
Dec 12, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Im not on the West Coast and this article was just a fun exercise of what ifs. Not gospel by any stretch.
George costanza
Dec 11, 2020 at 10:52 pm
One of your free agents will be off the free agency board. Sit back and wait for the news. Also John guys like Thomas Pieters and Brendan Grace don’t move the needle. Irrelevant as far as what is in their bag. Just a FYI bud!
John Wunder
Dec 13, 2020 at 10:00 am
True on the Pieters and Grace, the point was to show that having your driver in a non staffer bag doesn’t hurt your cause.
Paulo
Dec 12, 2020 at 5:10 am
So aggressive and unnecessary. . The point E made was completely valid !
John Wunder
Dec 12, 2020 at 12:12 pm
I don’t understand this one. What was aggressive and unnecessary?
AC
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:50 pm
Ping is for kids! Not specifically tailored towards highly skill Players.
AC
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:56 pm
Different Bounce… makes a lot of sense.