Equipment

Jon Rahm joins Callaway tour staff in multiyear deal

Published

3 years ago

Jan 4, 2021

Today, Callaway Golf announced that Jon Rahm, the number two ranked player in the world, has joined its tour professional staff in a multiyear agreement.

Rahm worked extensively with the company’s tour department to dial in the specs for each of his new clubs, and will officially make his Callaway staff debut this week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

For the year’s opening event, the Spaniard will use Callaway prototype woods and irons. He will eventually use the brand’s MD5 Jaws wedges, but they may not be in the bag in Hawaii. Rahm will also be gaming a Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball. While he’ll still have his TaylorMade Spider X putter in the bag, Rahm will move to an Odyssey putter in 2021.

Speaking on joining Callaway, Rahm, who shot a course record 59 at Silverleaf with his new clubs, said

“I’m so happy to be joining Callaway, and I can’t wait to start the year. The equipment is already performing well for me, and in my first round with the new setup,

“I shot a course record 59 at Silverleaf. I have confidence in my new Callaway clubs – and especially the golf ball, which has really impressed me during the testing process.”

Rahm used Callaway and Odyssey equipment at Arizona State University, where he won 11 tournaments while playing for Head Coach Tim Mickelson. The 26-year-old has the second-most wins in school history, behind fellow Callaway staffer Phil Mickelson.

On the new signing, Callaway President & CEO, Chip Brewer said

“We’re proud to welcome Jon Rahm as the newest member of our Tour Staff. He’s one of the very best players in the world, and he’s a proven winner on golf’s biggest global stages. We’ve admired Jon for many years, going back to his college days when he first used our equipment. We’re excited to see him playing Callaway and Odyssey again, as he looks to take his game to yet another level.”

In addition to using Callaway and Odyssey equipment, Rahm will wear apparel from TravisMathew throughout 2021.

Editor’s note: We will follow up this piece with a full Rahm WITB and details from the tour truck when the Spaniard’s club and shaft recipe is fully cooked.

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Gianni Magliocco

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

16 Comments

Dennis Beach

Jan 4, 2021 at 10:37 pm

Maybe its not even about the equipment. TM just didn’t want to give him what he thought he was due. There is no loyalty to one brand anymore. Players in the past would play the same equipment(clubs, ball) brand forever. If it is equipment, he could do worse.

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Jack Nash

Jan 4, 2021 at 4:39 pm

I fully expect that other than the “look” the irons won’t be any different than his TM’s. As someone said earlier none of Rahm’s equip will be in my bad anytime soon.

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Dennis Beach

Jan 4, 2021 at 2:03 pm

Nothing he plays helps me. Did my own research on everything I play in my bag. Ping g410SFT driver,older Cally Diablo 3 wood, 2 Snake Eyes hybrids(18-21), a full set of hybrid irons(24-46),from a company not so many people have ever heard about. 2 Cleveland CBX2 wedges, and a Cleveland putter. I play a Cally 2-piece ball. Not one club that a pro uses, will ever find its way into my bag, because they want it that way.

Reply Report comment
Imafitter

Jan 4, 2021 at 2:03 pm

I wish him luck as I like watching Jon play. Not surprised based on his relationship with the Mickelson family. Some do well and some don’t when they change equipment, but I hope he is successful.

Reply Report comment
Dave r

Jan 4, 2021 at 1:28 pm

None of them use retail anything.

Reply Report comment
Tank

Jan 4, 2021 at 11:56 am

I really didn’t expect him to say anything but give glowing comments about his NEW SPONSOR!

Reply Report comment
Dyson Bochambeau

Jan 4, 2021 at 10:15 am

He will struggle like most guys who switch equipment

Reply Report comment
- Funkaholic
  
  Jan 4, 2021 at 12:04 pm
  
  What a ridiculous comment.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - gunny
    
    Jan 4, 2021 at 12:15 pm
    
    No it’s really not at all. Look at players who switch 14 clubs and the ball while at their peak. There’s almost always a long drought period and some don’t ever get back to where they were. Think Lydia Ko and Graeme McDowell. Lydia made things worse by moving away from her Coach as well, but her fall has been significant.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Blades Forever
  
  Jan 4, 2021 at 6:07 pm
  
  Agreed, An other example is Justin Rose.
  
  Reply Report comment
Smith

Jan 4, 2021 at 9:27 am

I’m just glad the headline didn’t reference the 59. Guy made it to #1 in the world with TM – not saying they’re any better than Callaway, but not sure there’s a ton of improvement that can be offered be the change.

Reply Report comment
Brandon

Jan 4, 2021 at 9:17 am

Sounds like he has the new Apex pro in the bag along with the Epic Max. If so, we should see those hit the conforming list this week.

Reply Report comment
JT

Jan 4, 2021 at 9:10 am

The newest gen chrome soft x at retail is legit, I put it head to head with PV1x and loved it. Was an easy change. Not surprised to see JR go with it right away and give it so much positive feedback.

Reply Report comment
- Jacon
  
  Jan 4, 2021 at 10:46 am
  
  Almost none of the staffers play the retail ball; there are something like 40 tour-noyl variations.
  
  The most common ones I see from low-level tour players are the Diamond CS-X and the Star CS-X, which are firmer and more spinny, respectively.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - JM
    
    Jan 4, 2021 at 11:14 am
    
    That’s correct. None use retail ball.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Benny
      
      Jan 4, 2021 at 5:10 pm
      
      All the Tour gear comes off the exact same manufacturing line as the retail stuff guys. You’d be suprised to know we do play the same. The Pros just receive more definied and specified gear with specific perameters which each OEM pull from the same bucket of goods. Only time its “different” is when they do Prototypes. Acushnet was a customer of mine. I also knew a couple who worked on the ProV line. There is no magic Tour Only plant or line except at Cameron, or the company Cameron uses.
      
      Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

10 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

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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