This week, the PGA Tour revisits the Lone Star State for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The origins of this tournament trace back to the 1926 Dallas Open, and it resumed after a hiatus in 1944, with Byron Nelson’s name associated with the event since 1968. Nelson’s professional record includes 52 wins and 5 majors, by the way. Lord Byron won a record 11 tournaments in a row, 18 tournament victories overall in 1945. A fun fact, one of the wins was the Esmeralda Open at Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane, Washington, which is a home course of mine in town.

Another fun fact is that the club testing robot used by the USGA and major OEM’s is nicknamed Iron Byron. Of course, named after Byron Nelson, with his repeatable, consistent swing to test golf clubs and golf balls.

Anyways, let’s get to the action for this week’s Lead Tape Report at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

Alex Huang

Getting into the CJ Cup Byron Nelson through the Monday Qualifier is Alex Huang. The sophomore is on the University of North Texas golf team. This is his first PGA Tour event, and he did it in style, getting through a three-for-one playoff at the end of the qualifier. What caught my eye about the bag was the TaylorMade Stealth UDI driving iron. Moving along to his TaylorMade Spider putter, there was a strip of tape on the bottom as well. This can be for a bit more head weight or to help the putter sit on the putting surface in a specific way the player likes. 

Ryan Brehm

Ryan Brehm makes his way to TPC Craig Ranch for his fifth appearance at the event in his career. This is his 9th event of the season. Scanning his bag, I did not see anything with the silver stuff, and then it struck on the 50-degree Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack wedge. The other thing I noticed is the True Temper X7 shaft in his wedges, which carries on out through this set of irons. Typically, you will see a different set of shafts with a little softer kick in the wedges compared to the irons. But it shows that clubs are made for your swing and how you deliver the club at impact.

Adam Headley

Adam Headley of Green Tree Country Club is in his first PGA Tour event this week by way of qualifying, winning the Joyce Crane | Veritex Bank Section Championship in April 2025. This North Texas Section PGA Tour event granted an exemption into the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Looking into the bag, I couldn’t help but notice the Titleist T250U 4-iron. It is accompanied by a Project X HZRDUS Black shaft. A sporty head cover representing the home club on the bag as well. Will be staying tuned in on how Adam plays this week. 

Brennan Little

Our PGA Tour photographer, Greg Moore, caught up with Brennan on Monday. Brennan, Gary Woodland’s caddie, got to play in the pro-am on Monday. We see on the bottom of the Odyssey 7 Bird putter just one strip of lead tape. This looks to be to help with the putter at address as it sits on the putting surface. Another cool thing about Brennan Little is that, being a great player in his own right, he competed in the Senior PGA Championship earlier this year at the Concession Golf Club. A great year results-wise with playing in a major and being on the bag with Gary Woodland, getting a win at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March. 

Aaron Wise

The 2018 champion is in the field this week (albeit at a different location, Trinity Forest). As for Aaron’s bag, the club with the tape is the new Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond 7-wood. A nice piece of tape covering nearly the back half of the sole of the club. Paired with the Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X shaft, this makes for a stout club to attack the flag or get the ball in position off the tee. A high-lofted wood is going to have no trouble with height, so a stout shaft syncs up nicely.

In our forums, our members have been discussing TaylorMade’s Qi4D fairway woods. WRXer ‘texcrom’ is interested in the difference between the tour and core versions and kicks off the conversation asking:

“Looking for opinions on Qi4D Fairway woods.

“Is the Tour model worth the extra money compared to the Core model ? (Not the Max). I had the Qi35 Tour models and they were awesome. Made a mistake and sold them for some GT 2’s.”

And our members have been weighing in with their thoughts and experiences in response.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

• J-Walker: “I love the QI4D core FW lineup; prefer it over the tour lineup personally. They are very accurate and forgiving, and don’t over spin for me.”
• SBH9458: “Love the look of Qi4D Tour fairways.”
• wam78: “Everyone will have a subjective opinion. I always like the core model the best.  So easy to hit and launch. The only tour model I liked was the stealth plus 5-wood. That thing was awesome! I do really like that the last 2 releases have an adjustable core model. Otherwise you had to search throughout the store to try find one that did not sit too closed.”

Entire Thread: “TaylorMade Qi4D Fairways: Tour vs Core? – GolfWRXers discuss”

In our forums, our members have been discussing irons similar to Mizuno’s M15 Pro that are a bit more workable for the everyday golfer. WRXer ‘jjones519a’ kicks off the conversation saying:

“I’ve played Ap2 T100 / Srixon ZX7 ish irons for 15 years now. I’m older and wanted to try foam irons and decided on the M15s over the 790s and 250s.

I really like them. High and straight mostly. But that is the problem. I’ve been playing a draw forever. These irons start right and stay there. I just can’t get used to aiming straight. I don’t like how they don’t spin enough.

I also miss driver left. Over and over.  Im so used to drawing it back through the trees and it’s impossilbe with these.  I can’t move them. 

Any irons easy to hit but also spin a bit more?? I’m thinking the 150s or M13s.   Or back to Srixon ZXi7 lol.”

And our members have been weighing in with their thoughts in response.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

• KGrinols: “Cobra 3DP X and Wilson XB would be the first two that come to mind for me.”
• twoputt: “Try the Mizuno 925 forged.”
• wam78: “Wilson XB would be my first go to. You also could power spec some i230’s. 770’s would be another option to look into.”

Entire Thread: “I love the Mizuno M15 Pro but need something a bit more workable… – GolfWRXers discuss”