Equipment
Johnny Miller’s 1973 winning U.S. Open WITB…which includes a pre-war 4-wood
In 1973, Johnny Miller shot a final-round 63 to win the U.S. Open. Miller said, “It was the oldest set of clubs [in relation] to the year it was played on Tour in the history of golf.”
A recent tweet from Brian Schneider gave an incredible insight into the clubs in Miller’s bag for that event. Including irons and a 3-wood from 1945, as well as a pre-war 4-wood.
Here is a look at what Miller had in the bag for one of the most memorable rounds in golf history.
Johnny Miller 1973 U.S. Open WITB
Driver: 1961 McGregor Velocitized Tourney (10.5 degrees) D9 swingweight
Shaft:True Temper Dynamic Steel, X Flex, 43.5 inches
270 yards
Miller: “I had to have everything just right, so I refinished my clubs and re-faced them. In ’73, they used persimmon that wasn’t the hard work, I wanted the heavier blocks that had a real tight grain. I wanted a little bit of movement, which means [wood] from the knotty area of the tree.”
3-wood: 1945 MacGregor Tommy Armour (15 degrees)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Steel, X Flex
235-240 yards
4-wood:1941 MacGregor Tommy Armour (19 degrees)
Shaft:True Temper Dynamic Steel, X Flex
225 yards
Irons: 1945 MacGregor Tommy Armour 915T (2-7), 1972 MacGregor Tourney Custom (8-PW)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Steel, Stiff Flex, +0.5″ shaft length
2-iron: 210 yards
3-iron: 200 yards
4-iron: 185 yards
5-iron: 175 yards
6-iron: 160 yards
7-iron: 150 yards
8-iron: 140 yards
9-iron: 125 yards
PW (10-iron): 115 yards
Miller: “I cut the irons and reground the bottoms [soles] and the top. You didn’t have much club left, so they had to have a lot of lead tape to bring them up [to proper swingweight numbers]. An extra wrap on the right hand made the grip not so V-shaped.”
Wedge: 1959 Wilson Dyna-Power Sand Wedge (58 degrees)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic steel shaft, stiff flex
85 yards
Putter: 1952 Acushnet Bullseye Old Standard (36″ shaft)
Miller: “No putter ever made feels better than a Bullseye, it’s so soft. The ones before the late ’60’s had a heavier brass alloy, which kept them from getting dinged up all over.”
Ball: MacGregor Tourney
Miller: “In ’73, I switched to the Tourney ball that Jack [Nicklaus] was using. It was a heck of a ball. It was so hard [101 compression] that it wouldn’t spin and back up quite as much as the softer balata balls. When I switched, my scoring definitely improved.”
So Johnny Miller used irons and a 3-wood from 1945, a pre-war 4-wood and a twelve year-old driver to shoot one of the best rounds ever in 1973… what’s the big deal? pic.twitter.com/6cgC3RSnhN
— Brian Schneider (@bschneider126) February 15, 2022
- LIKE251
- LEGIT20
- WOW33
- LOL1
- IDHT3
- FLOP2
- OB0
- SHANK4
Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition. $325 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
- LIKE2
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
- LIKE3
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes
As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
- LIKE95
- LEGIT9
- WOW3
- LOL6
- IDHT2
- FLOP4
- OB3
- SHANK6
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole6 days ago
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole6 days ago
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole5 days ago
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Addiction, spinal fusion, and scam artists – Everything Anthony Kim revealed in candid interview with David Feherty
Chuck
Feb 19, 2022 at 11:41 am
This was a fascinating read. Kudos to Matt Vincenzi, and especially to Brian Schneider for the original Tweet.
It is all interesting, but what blew me away was seeing Miller commenting favorably on the MacGregor Tourney ball of that era. I’ve never seen much of anything that was kind to, or generous about that ball. Nicklaus, it is reliably reported, was ready to quit MacGregor over their lousy balls. Some of Nicklaus’ rivals think that Jack might have won even more, if he hadn’t been stuck with the Tourney. I think it is true, that MacGregor made some changes to the ball around the time that Miller speaks of. How very interesting to listen to Miller talk about that.