Equipment
Phil Mickelson explains his unique putter design at the 2023 PGA Championship
The last time GolfWRX shot in-hand photos of Phil Mickelson’s golf clubs was back in 2022, so his 2023 PGA Championship setup was a big question mark.
Now, we have the answers.
Mickelson – who finished T2 in the Masters last month – showed up on Tuesday at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, for the year’s second major with a mixed bag. His current setup includes a Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond 8.5-degree driver, a TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver (11.5 degrees), a Callaway Apex UW, a Ping Anser 17-degree hybrid, a Callaway X Forged UT driving iron, a set of Callaway X Forged 2013 irons, Callaway Jaws wedges (50 and 56 degrees), and an Odyssey “Phil Mickelson” blade at four degrees.
See more photos of Phil Mickelson’s 2023 PGA Championship WITB here
His putter is not the typical blade putter that Mickelson has used throughout his career, however. It’s a prototype putter that Mickelson started testing in 2021, and it’s built with unique internal weighting.
“Do you want some insight on that putter?” Mickelson asked GolfWRX’s photographer while he was photographing Mickelson’s clubs.
Well, of course…
“It has an aluminum plug in the heel and a tungsten plug in the toe to move CG (center of gravity) to the center of the putter,” Mickelson explained.
Since the putter is made from steel, the lighter-weight aluminum plug (in the heel) and heavier-weighted tungsten plug (in the toe) help to shift the overall center of gravity (CG) away from the heavy hosel. In typical Phil fashion, he also added multiple strips of lead tape to the back cavity, and he equips the putter with a 17-inch SuperStroke WristLock grip.
The last time Mickelson teed it up in a PGA Championship, he won. In case you don’t recall, Mickelson claimed the 2021 PGA Championship at 50 years old, but he didn’t play in the 2022 edition. So, in a way, this week is his first shot at a title defense.
We’ll update you with more information on Mickelson’s current setup as it becomes available.
Check out Mickelson’s full WITB, and don’t forget to check out all of our photos from the 2023 PGA Championship here.
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Whats in the Bag
Ben Kohles WITB 2024 (May)
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 9 x
Irons: Titleist T200 (4, 5), Titleist 620 CB (6-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-12F, 54-12D, 60)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Putter: Scotty Cameron P5 prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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Whats in the Bag
Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)
- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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Equipment
Welcome to the family: TaylorMade launches PUDI and PDHY utility irons
TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Robert Fuller
May 18, 2023 at 7:48 pm
What shaft is in Phil’s putter?
Pingback: Phil Mickelson WITB 2023 (May) – GolfWRX
jamho3
May 16, 2023 at 10:41 pm
Putter is gorgeous, and what a lot of us 8802 fans would’ve done given the opportunity. Looks so much like his Yonex ADX from the 90’s though kinda funny.
Very curious why no mention of the Ping Eye 2 wedge? Was that a sponsors choice?
BunkerFinder
May 17, 2023 at 8:54 pm
The Ping was my first though – Eye 2 EG so legal, and know he was a fan of the original. Wondering if it has a regular place in the bag.
Also, love the putter 🙂
BobbyG
May 16, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Even rigged up, the 8802 style head looks pure.
Ray Arcade
May 16, 2023 at 10:28 pm
Got that right!