Tour News
Top equipment free agents heading into 2021
Although golf doesn’t have professional teams outside of the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup competitions, we still have our own version of draft day, signing day, and free agency as players move not from teams but from equipment companies. These changes not only bring with them a gluttony of testing, switching, and conversation around performance but also a close examination of a player’s game pre-, and post-switch.
Heading into 2021, the list of unsigned and rumored to be signed players has never been bigger.
These are top free agents heading into the new year.
Jason Day & Jon Rahm
Jason and Jon were noticeably absent from this year’s TaylorMade Christmas card, while the newest staff player Tommy Fleetwood was included right next to Rory and Tiger. As we covered for PGATour.com, both Day and Rahm have been TaylorMade staff players for their entire careers with Jason’s tenure going back to 2006.
It has been rumored that Rahm has been spotted extensively testing Callaway equipment, and considering his ties to Phil Mickelson—Phil’s brother was Jon’s first professional agent—this is the most likely scenario. As for Jason, considering his career earnings and inconsistent health in recent years, it is most likely he will do what a lot of players have done recently and become an equipment free agent and have some sort of golf bag and hat deal outside of the equipment world.
Justin Rose
Justin Rose has had an interesting couple of years when it comes to his equipment. He switched to Honma going into 2019 and won right out of the gate. He then struggled with swing issues, and in early 2020, he and Honma split and Rose was an unrestricted free agent filling his bag with whatever he felt suited him best (Justin Rose 2020 WITB).
With his valuable portfolio of sponsors outside of the equipment world, the likelihood he will sign a full club deal with another equipment manufacturer is unlikely, but it doesn’t make it impossible, which is why it will be something to watch in 2021.
The “unlikely to sign” list
Brooks Koepka – Brooks has made it well known that his time is his time and considering the fact that even now, after four major wins, he has yet to sign an equipment contract puts to rest the possibility he will ever be tied down to a single OEM for clubs.
Paul Casey – Much like Brooks, Paul Casey has had the luxury of using whatever clubs he sees fit since Nike left the hard goods space, and with his global playing schedule and name recognition, you would think by this point he would have signed a deal. But when you have a good thing going, why change, and I think that’s the approach Paul is sticking with.
Ryan Palmer – Ryan in a way embodies everything that is what we at GolfWRX love. He is known to tinker when new gear is released, but still maintains his love for great clubs )Ryan Palmer 2020 WITB). After famously saying in an interview “With the amount of money we play for (on the PGATour) why would I risk using something I don’t 100% feel confident in?” we expect that the status quo will continue, which still makes it a lot of fun to watch!
Billy Horschel – Billy was one of the first players to sign with (at the time) equipment upstart PXG, but for 2020 he joined the ranks of other equipment free agents on tour (Billy Horschel 2020 WITB). Once again, like other veteran players on this list, Billy has done very well with career earning including a FedEx Cup win, so he is likely to stay the course and play what he wants for 2021, but stranger things have happened and he will be a player to follow.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.
As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.
General Albums
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Monday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Thorbjorn Olesen – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jesse Droemer – SoTX PGA Section POY – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- David Lipsky – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Martin Trainer – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Zac Blair – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Jacob Bridgeman – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Trace Crowe – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Daniel Berger – WITB(very mini) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Chesson Hadley – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Callum McNeill – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Rhein Gibson – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Patrick Fishburn – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Raul Pereda – WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Pullout Albums
- Tom Hoge’s custom Cameron – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Piretti putters – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Ping putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Kevin Dougherty’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Bettinardi putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Cameron putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- Tony Finau’s new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Players Championship
On the heels of Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Bay Hill, the PGA Tour heads a little farther north in Florida to TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players Championship. And of course, GolfWRX is on site to get a look at what the players are playing.
We’ve already spotted a new Titleist mini driver this week, and there’s plenty more.
Check out our photos below!
Pullout Albums
- New Titleist 2 wood – 2024 The Players Championship
- Cam Young testing Titleist’s new 2-wood – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Hole Nos. 17 and 18 – 2024 THE PLAYERS Championship
- Toulon Small Batch Texas putter – 2024 The Players Championship
- Swag Golf custom headcovers – 2024 The Players Championship
- New Ping PLD staff bags – 2024 The Players Championship
- SuperStroke St. Patrick’s Day putter grip – 2024 The Players Championship
- Taylor Montgomery using PuttView X training goggles – 2024 The Players Championship
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
GolfWRX is on the ground in Orlando ahead of the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.
We’re assembling our usual collection of WITB photos, general galleries, and of course, gear inspired by the King himself.
We’ll continue to add to the photos below as more flow in from Florida.
General Albums
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Monday #3
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #1 (thanks, bvmagic!)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #3 (bvmagic)
- 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational – Tuesday #2 (bvmagic)
WITB Albums
- Matt (LFG) Every – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sahith Theegala – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Luke List – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Taylor Moore – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- David Ford – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Pullout Albums
- New Cameron putters (and new “LD” grip) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Bettinardi MB & CB irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Bettinardi API putter cover – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Custom Swag API covers – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- New PXG putters – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Scottie Scheffler putter change – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Sepp Straka – shaft change to new Ventus blue – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Rickie Fowler’s new Cobra Darkspeed X driver and Denali shaft (and Radspeed 3-wood) – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
- Justin Rose testing Srixon Z Forged II irons – 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Ben
Apr 9, 2021 at 4:16 am
Without sponsored deals I believe the most commonly used clubs on tour would be:
Driver: Ping – Stability
Fairway: Cobra – Great off the deck but willing to admit this is the least likely.
Irons: Mizuno – Feel
Wedges: Vokey – Even lots of contracted players use them already.
Putter: Scotty Cameron – Same as wedges
BTW I don’t use any of the above in my own bag.
josh
Dec 31, 2020 at 12:24 am
Jason day doesn’t need a hat deal. His Nike gear makes sure of that.
Alex
Dec 30, 2020 at 7:31 pm
Wish more guys were free agents. I get it, but if you have a Nike or adidas contract or your name isn’t Rory, DJ, Bryson, JT why would you want to play equipment you don’t truly believe in. My bag
Ping G410 driver
Callaway epic flash 3 wood
Titleist 818 H2 hybrid or Cleveland/Srixon driving iron
Srixon 585 4 iron
Srixon 785 5/PW
Vokey SM7 50
Vokey SM5 56 bent to 55
VokeySMY 60 bent to 59
Taylormade Ghost Manta mallet
Ted K
Jan 2, 2021 at 8:32 pm
Hey narcissist, nobody gives a c r a p about what’s in your bag!
Ben
Jan 3, 2021 at 12:03 am
Hey Ted, this is WRX so I care more about what’s in his bag than your comment that offers nothing. There are plenty of Golf sites where no one cares go hang out there. Happy New Year.
Mark
Dec 30, 2020 at 6:57 pm
Maybe if enough players go without equipment deals the price of drivers could come down to $399 and get a set of irons under $999 again.
stephen hall
Dec 30, 2020 at 7:32 pm
Not a chance
Jeff
Dec 31, 2020 at 4:29 pm
The cat has left that bag
Benny
Jan 2, 2021 at 7:37 pm
You can do this now, just not with the main OEM’s