Connect with us

Equipment

TOUR REPORT: McIlroy switches drivers during Genesis Invitational (plus Tiger’s iron change)

Published

on

Welcome to the 2023 Genesis Invitational – a.k.a Tiger’s event – at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.

Tournament host Tiger Woods was always expected to be on site for the event, but he surprised the golfing world by actually playing in the tournament despite lingering questions about his injuries. Lucky for us, we got a special look at his golf clubs, including his famous Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter.

Aside from Woods’ clubs, it was an entertaining week in golf equipment overall, with notable switches from Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Jordan Spieth, and Adam Scott.

Let’s get into this week’s Tour Report below for all of the equipment highlights.

Jordan Spieth (finally) changes putter grips

Spieth is still using his familiar Scotty Cameron 009 putter head, but he switched into a new SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0 grip this week. It was about time, too, because his previous SuperStroke Traxion grip was nearly falling off because it was so worn out. As previously reported, SuperStroke’s new Zenergy grips feature enhanced texture in the gripping zone, and a number of new colorways. Justin Thomas switched into a new “JT” Zenergy grip last week, and Xander Schauffele switched into one this week, too.

Tommy Fleetwood makes a putter change

Fleetwood is a prolific putter tester, but he’s not always a putter switcher. Although he frequently tries out new putters, he tends to revert to his familiar Odyssey White Hot Pro #3. This week, however, Fleetwood tested out an Axis1 TM Elite prototype putter with a face insert, and he decided to put it in play.

Here’s a closer look, thanks to Axis1…

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Axis1 Golf (@axis1golf)

Click here for more in the GolfWRX Forums

Adam Scott’s putter from down under

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

On Monday, while playing a practice round at The Los Angeles Country Club North course in preparation for the 2023 U.S. Open, Scott started testing out a custom blue L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1 long putter with dancing kangaroos on the sole, equipped with a TPT prototype shaft. Apparently, the testing session went well because he put the putter in play this week at the Genesis Invitational.

Aside from the blue colorway, L.A.B. also adjusted his lie angle from 79.5 to 78 degrees, helping Scott get the putter more flush to the ground at address. He also tested out a Ping G430 LST driver, but decided to stick with his former TaylorMade Stealth Plus driver, which offered a slightly more penetrating flight to navigate this week’s windy conditions.

Adam Scott’s full WITB at the 2023 Genesis Invitational

Rory McIlroy makes a mid-event driver switch

We spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus at the 2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open, but he ended up staying in his original Stealth Plus. And, although he started out the Genesis Invitational using the Stealth Plus in round 1, he switched into the new Stealth 2 Plus for round 2 after a range session following his first round. According to a TaylorMade rep, he found the Stealth 2 Plus to offer faster speeds and overall distance.

See Rory’s full WITB here

The GOAT’s putter, and an iron change

Woods made two minor changes to his bag setup since the last time we saw him at the 2023 PNC Championship. He switched out his previous P-770 3-iron for the new 2023 P-770 model, and he switched out the Scotty Cameron putter grip he used at the PNC, replacing it with a familiar Ping PP58 Pistol grip.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour)

This week, we also got an especially up-close look at Woods’ famous Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter that he’s used to capture 14-of-his-15 major championship victories.

More up-close photos of Woods’ putter in our GolfWRX Forums

And with that, we say goodbye to Riviera and the 2023 Genesis Invitational. We’ll see you next week at The 2023 Honda Classic for the start of the Florida swing.

For more WITB photos from this week at the Genesis Invitational, click here!

Your Reaction?
  • 118
  • LEGIT16
  • WOW10
  • LOL7
  • IDHT5
  • FLOP2
  • OB2
  • SHANK8

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Carolyn

    Feb 18, 2023 at 11:30 pm

    Come on people get a clue if some of the best Drivers of the golf ball in the world cannot hit a fairway with a custom version of a club what chance is there a $700 copy of that driver is going to work for the amateur. All smoke and mirrors. a good swing hits the fairway not an expensive golf club.

  2. M

    Feb 18, 2023 at 1:16 am

    Tampon tampon! Put a stamp on!

  3. Benny

    Feb 17, 2023 at 8:17 pm

    If thats GSS then why is it rusting? His GsS was uikt several years before any GSS made it into Cameron putters. 6-7yrs from what I remember.

    Why has Cameron tried so hard for so many years to get Tiger to switch?

    Is that GSS really gss?

    If the world were to find out a magnet sticks to Tigers wand it would certainly ruin the GSS empire Cameron built.

    Just saying….

    • Paulo

      Feb 19, 2023 at 6:13 am

      I doubt anyone would care

    • Tom 54

      Feb 21, 2023 at 11:05 am

      I’m just wondering why his putter has so many dings on it. I’ve had nice Scotty Cameron putters for years and as long as it’s covered mine still look damn near perfect. As yes that rust is very concerning too.The cover comes off when you walk to the green and it gets put back on when you leave. Even though that putter has won 14 of his 15 majors it sure looks beat up to me.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Whats in the Bag

Maverick McNealy WITB 2023 (June)

Published

on

  • Maverick McNealy WITB accurate as of the PGA Championship.

Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond Plus (10.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD XC 6 TX

4-wood: Callaway Mavrik (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X

Irons: Callaway Apex MB prototype (3-11)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (3-11)

Wedges: Callaway MD Forged (56-12 @55.25, 58)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Toulon Stanford MM Custom

Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft**

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

More photos of McNealy’s WITB here.

More Maverick McNealy WITBs

Your Reaction?
  • 3
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK1

Continue Reading

Whats in the Bag

Thomas Pieters WITB 2023 (June)

Published

on

Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees @9.25, C2 SureFit)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Orange 75 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade SIM Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX

7-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX

Irons: Titleist 620 CB (3, 4), Titleist 620 MB (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-10S), Vokey 2022 Prototype (58-L @60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: TaylorMade Spider GT
Grip: SuperStroke Pistol GTR

Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

More photos of Thomas Pieters WITB in the forums.

More Thomas Pieters WITBs

Your Reaction?
  • 4
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW1
  • LOL0
  • IDHT1
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Whats in the Bag

Ludvig Aberg WITB 2023 (June)

Published

on

Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue M-AX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Blue 75 TX

Irons: Titleist T-MB 718 (2 iron), Titleist T-100 (4-9 iron)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (50, 54, 60 degrees)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X

Putter: Odyssey Works Versa #1

Ball: Titleist 2023 Pro V1x

Your Reaction?
  • 16
  • LEGIT3
  • WOW0
  • LOL0
  • IDHT1
  • FLOP1
  • OB2
  • SHANK1

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending