Equipment
10 takeaways from a WILD week in equipment at The 2022 CJ Cup (Shane Lowry used 5 different putters!)
Welcome to this week’s Tour Report from the 2022 CJ Cup in South Carolina. In case you missed our Two Guys Talking Golf podcast, it was a wild week for golf equipment at Congaree Golf Club in Ridgeland, South Carolina.
New equipment got launched, clubs got broken, big switches went down, and a player’s agent even had to “borrow” a club from a course member’s bag. I’ll recap all of it down below so you don’t miss any of the gear entertainment from the 2022 CJ Cup in South Carolina.
Let’s get into this week’s Tour Report:
1) Scottie Scheffler switches out his Masters-winning putter
The week started with a shocker from Scheffler, who was the world No. 1 golfer when the week started. On Tuesday ahead of the event, we spotted Scheffler testing out a new Scotty Cameron T-5.5 Proto mallet putter, which ultimately replaced his previous Scotty Cameron Special Select Tour Type GSS proto blade putter that he started using at the beginning of 2022 (he won 4 times with the old putter in 2022, including the 2022 Masters).
It just goes to show, even winning the Masters with a putter doesn’t mean it’s exempt from getting benched when the putts stop dropping.
Scheffler discussed the switch in-depth, and I covered the full story over on PGATOUR.com. For more photos and discussion of the putter, check out this GolfWRX Forum thread.
2) Shane Lowry speaks on new Cleveland-Srixon gear
Lowry’s bag was packed with previously unseen Cleveland-Srixon equipment when we shot a full WITB with him on Wednesday. Luckily for us, Lowry was willing to share some of his initial thoughts and insight on the new equipment here.
3) Lowry’s five-putter event, explained
On Wednesday, we shot photos of Lowry’s Odyssey White Hot Pro 2-ball putter. It was the same putter he used to win the 2022 BMW Championship in September, and he still had it in the bag on Wednesday at Congaree.
In an innocent kicking accident on the 9th hole on Thursday, however, Lowry’s putter broke. He was forced to use his lob wedge for 2 holes, then he finished the round using a Scotty Cameron putter that his agent took from a course member’s bag (don’t worry, they returned the putter).
Accidentally broke my putter on the 9th hole today…Hour drive to get a replacement. Thanks to the staff at the PGA Tour Superstore in Bluffton for their help. ?? pic.twitter.com/9hpfhDtg1J
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) October 20, 2022
The following day, Odyssey shipped a White Hot OG 2-ball putter to a local PGA Superstore, which was an hour away in Bluffton. When Lowry went to the Superstore to pick up the putter, he also bought a backup version for $229.99.
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) October 20, 2022
He used the White Hot OG putter that Odyssey sent to him during Friday’s round.
Then, on Sunday, Lowry was spotted using an Odyssey DFX 2-ball putter. That means Lowry used 4 different putters during The 2022 CJ Cup, including his original White Hot Pro 2-ball, the borrowed Scotty Cameron, a White Hot OG 2-ball, and a DFX 2-ball. PLUS, he used a lob wedge to putt for two holes, bringing the tally to 5. Five “putters” in one event! That has to be a record. It simply has to be.
4) Tom Kim goes deep on his putter and putter shaft
Budding superstar Tom Kim has been using ultra-custom Scotty Cameron putters and LA Golf putter shafts throughout his record-setting start on the PGA Tour; Tiger Woods and the 20-year-old Kim are the only two golfers to have multiple PGA Tour wins before turning 21 years old.
We went in-depth with Kim on the backstories to his putter choices over on PGATOUR.com.
4) Tommy Fleetwood faces a dilemma
On Wednesday, we caught up with Fleetwood, who was still deciding between a custom TaylorMade TP Juno putter, and a custom Scotty Cameron Buttonback Masterful putter.
He told GolfWRX that he liked the TaylorMade putter a lot, but he was seeing a bit too much loft. The Scotty Cameron, due to the insert, was presenting a touch less loft, according to Fleetwood.
Ultimately, Fleetwood decided to use the TaylorMade Juno this week at Congaree.
5) Bettinardi reveals new prototype putters
As part of its tour-custom Hexperimental series, Bettinardi launched three prototype mallet putters this week on the PGA Tour (including a lefty version).
Check out all of the Bettinardi Hexperimental prototype putters here.
6) Cam Young’s wild week of equipment
Like Lowry, the long-hitting Cam Young had quite a roller coaster of a week in equipment.
Prior to the event, Young switched into a new Titleist TSR2+ 14.5-degree 3-wood, and a TSR2 5-wood, each of which are equipped with incredibly stiff shafts. He also switched into a SuperStroke Traxion Flatso 2.0 putter grip on his custom Scotty Cameron putter. I asked him about all the changes on Wednesday, to which he replied:
“Yeah, just some tinkering,” Young said in his press conference. “The 3-wood and 5-wood I just feel like I haven’t — I don’t hit the 3-wood very often. I had a 4-wood and I just didn’t hit it that often, so we were just looking to change the setup a little bit to give me some more options. I didn’t play great last week, but those changes we made in those clubs I think worked out really nicely. I kind of like the way that they worked for me in the tournament. And the putter grip is just, I’m always tinkering with something, just trying something new.”
If all the changes weren’t enough, there was more gear news from Young during The CJ Cup.
As the story goes, Young felt like something was off with his driver head on Friday, so he borrowed a driver from Webb Simpson for Saturday’s round. It was a Titleist TSi3 9.5-degree head, and Young switched out the shaft for his gamer Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro White 70 TX shaft.
Check out the full story here.
7) Hideki makes a driver shaft change
Hideki Matsuyama tests numerous driver shafts every week, so that’s nothing new, but he typically plays the event with a Graphite Design Tour AD-DI orange shaft in his driver. This week, however, he switched into a Fujikura Ventus Black 8TX driver shaft to lower spin.
Per @FujikuraOnTour, Hideki has gone Ventus Black in driver and fairway woods (8 TX, 9 TX, 10 TX). Was looking to bring apex and spin down and dial in landing angle.
— Ben Alberstadt (@benalberstadt) October 20, 2022
9) Kisner’s switch
For years, Kisner had been using Callaway Apex Pro Forged irons, equipped with Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 125 shafts. On Wednesday, though, we spotted Kisner with a bag full of Callaway Apex TCB irons, each with a custom sole grind, and equipped with Nippon N.S. LSL3 115-gram shafts.
According to a Callaway rep, Kisner was searching for a slightly higher launch and more spin. Kisner was also spotted with a Wilson driver in play this week.
And, with that, we conclude this week’s Tour Report from The 2022 CJ Cup in South Carolina.
Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, and tune into the latest Two Guys Talking Golf podcast below!
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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.
View this post on Instagram
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.
View this post on Instagram
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.
View this post on Instagram
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)
View this post on Instagram
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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