Equipment
Rickie Fowler and Hideki Matsuyama make big gear changes in Napa
Andrew Tursky was on site at the Fortinet Championship this week and got all he could handle in terms of new equipment news. There were new irons, drivers, and even headcovers all over the range, so we had to dig into two of the biggest stories out there on this week’s Two Guys Talking Golf Podcast (give us a follow on Instagram: @tg2wrx).
Rickie Fowler’s new irons
Rickie Fowler has been changing a lot of equipment in his bag as he has struggled to get his golf game back into shape. We have seen him with different drivers, shafts, irons, and putters throughout the 2021-2022 season. Fowler has typically played some form of blade during his career, and Cobra even made him some signature Rev33 blades that were beautiful, but razor thin and intimidating for us mortal golfers.
Rickie showed up to the Fortinet with some brand new, unreleased, Cobra King Tour irons. The King Tour irons look a lot like the current Cobra King Tour MIM irons, and we can only assume that the new Tour will replace the MIM.
The interesting thing about the King Tour irons is that they look a little larger than his preferred blades and that they might have a little more ball speed and distance built into them. From the images you can tell there is a little slot behind the face that might be filled with some type of polymer.
Rickie didn’t get into the tech of the new King Tour irons but did tell Tursky that he was gaining around 3-4 yards on shots that he stuck low on the face. He finished the first round of the Fortinet Championship in the top four, so the new irons have seen some success under pressure. I know many of us hope to see Rickie back to form soon, and maybe these new King Tour irons can be the catalyst.
Hideki Matsuyama’s driver change
The other big story comes from a former Masters Champion testing out some new drivers on the range, Hideki Matsuyama. Matsuyama is well known as a golfer who loves to test and tinker with new golf equipment. Each week there is a good chance that he will have multiple drivers, irons, and fairways in the bag searching for the perfect club that week.
Earlier this week, Hideki was spotted with some new, unreleased, Srixon drivers out on the range in Napa. We spotted a few pros testing the new Srixon ZX7 MkII and ZX 5 MkII LS on the range.
Andrew spoke to the Srixon reps and learned Hideki has been trying the new drivers and seems to have settled on a Srixon ZX5 MkII in 10.5 degrees of loft (and his trusty Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX shaft).
The ZX5 MkII LS looks to have an adjustable weight on the sole that is moved far forward —closer to the face — to possibly lower the spin. We haven’t heard anything specific from Srixon on the new drivers, but with their recent success, we would expect to see some solid performance out of the line.
Check out the full TG2 podcast, below
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Equipment
Spotted: Custom Scotty Cameron putters at the Cognizant Classic
Each week on the PGA Tour, we spot some pretty amazing Scotty Cameron Circle T putters that players are using or testing. This week is no exception as we have some great flatsticks that were built for players at the Congnizant Classic. Here are a few of the ones that stood out to us!
Jacob Bridgeman: Circle T Masterful+
The matte copper finish is something you don’t see a ton from Scotty Cameron, but it looks great on this putter. The Masterful+ is a version of the retail Newport+ with a slightly wider shape from face to back. A Teryllium face insert should offer a softer feel and sound, especially with the deeper milling on it.
Tom Kim: Circle T 5s
Kim’s putter might be the most unique here because of the center shaft, shaft alignment aid, and a sanded-down sole. When you look at the top of the putter, down near the heel, you can see an alignment aid that works with the shaft to make sure the putter face is square to the target. The sole also looks to have the center of it sanded down and that could be to ensure that the putter sits a certain way when it is resting on the turf.
Alejandro Tosti: Circle T Timeless+
This Timeless+ is a take on the retail Newport 2 Plus with a wider shape and a sole plate that moves more mass to the perimeter for added stability. Tosti went with a single site line on the topline of the putter, leaving the flange naked. We see another Teryllium face insert here for dialing in the sound and feel, but this time with shallower milling.
Ryo Hisatsune: Circle T F-3
We haven’t seen too many heel-shafted putters in the past couple of years, but recently they have made a slight comeback. Ryo’s F3 is based off the legendary Del Mar head shape with the larger shoulders surrounding the flange. This putter also has a unique “T” shaped alignment with a white line running from heel to toe on the top of the putter and a half line running from front to back on the flange. The face looks to have a pretty aggressive deep milling for a softer, quieter impact.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic
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Whats in the Bag
Shane Lowry WITB 2024 (March)
- Shane Lowry what’s in the bag accurate as of the Cognizant Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 70 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade M5 (19 degrees @ 18.25 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X
Irons: Srixon ZX Utility (3, 20 degrees), Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4, 5), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (6-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X (3), KBS Tour 130 X (4-PW)
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID), Cleveland RTX Full Face (58-8)
Shafts: KBS Tour Wedge X Black
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: SuperStroke Pistol
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV
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Equipment
Tua Tagovailoa’s WITB + 9 interesting equipment photos from the Cognizant Classic
Welcome to the 2024 Cognizant Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, where the Florida Swing officially gets underway
Not to oversell the story below, but we spotted a surprising amount of interesting gear this week.
We got our first look at Maverick McNealy’s updated set (he’s mostly a free agent now, aside from the putter), Jake Knapp’s two-driver setup, Chris Kirk’s show-stopping new black irons, Tom Kim’s “new” custom Scotty Cameron, an oddly high-tech prototype driver headcover, and we even got a look at Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s set during the Wednesday Pro-Am.
There’s a lot to cover, and no time to waste. Let’s get right into the 9 interesting equipment photos below!
See all of our photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic here
1) Our first look at Maverick McNealy’s setup in 2024
Now as an Odyssey putter staffer, McNealy is free to play any 13 full-shot clubs that he desires. McNealy has always preferred a blade iron style with a longer blade length – ala Tiger Woods – so it’s no shocker to see him switch into the TaylorMade P-7TW iron head, co-designed by Tiger himself. What’s cool about the photo above is you can see that he originally had lead tape across the top portion of the head, but removed it and added weight to the bottom portion; in all likelihood, he still wanted the extra head weight, but also wanted a bit of extra launch and height. After all, it is a thin blade 3-iron we’re talking about, so it makes sense.
As for the rest of McNealy’s bag, he’s using a TaylorMade Qi10 driver, two Stealth 2 fairway woods (3HL and 7), a set of P-7TW irons (3-9), Titleist Vokey SM10 wedges (46, 50, 54 and 58 degrees), and he’s testing between his longtime Odyssey Toulon “Stanford MM” putter, and a new Odyssey Ai-One Milled “Stanford” black-and-gold putter.
He’s also using a Titleist Pro V1x golf ball, where he uses the “dot” while putting for visual focus, and the line for alignment on his tee shot.
McNealy is the type of gearhead that GolfWRX.com is all about; attention to detail, with a flair for style. He’s a pilot, too, which explains the Top Gun-inspired “Maverick” headcovers, and “remove before flight” headcover tag.
Check out McNealy’s full 2024 WITB here from the Cognizant Classic
2) Shane Lowry’s two heartwarming headcovers
Shane Lowry has two daughters.
One is named Ivy…
And the other is named Iris…
See what golf clubs are underneath Lowry’s family-oriented headcovers here.
3) Brandt Snedeker still has the Odyssey White Hot Rossie XG putter in the bag
He’s still got it!
But, let’s not get too excited, because on Wednesday, we also spotted Sneds with a Bridgestone TD-02 putter in the bag, which looks quite similar to his longtime gamer Rossie XG.
Snedeker certainly has a type when it comes to how his putter looks, doesn’t he?
Check out the rest of Snedeker’s 2024 WITB here
4) A prototype Swag Golf headcover
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It’s rare that “prototype headcover testing” happens on the PGA Tour, but that exactly what’s happening with Nick Hardy this week.
According to Swag Golf founder and CEO Nick Venson, Swag Golf is in the creation process of what the company is calling “Headcover 3.0,” which uses TPU welding and a support structure to create a three-dimensional look, and greater durability.
The new age of headcovers could be developing right in front of our eyes.
5) Tom Kim’s custom putter
I wrote in-depth about Tom Kim’s new custom putter over on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report this week, but below is a few snippets of what he had to say about the customized Scotty Cameron Tour-Only T5S mallet that he switched to recently at the 2024 Genesis Invitational:
“No, [it’s not worn down], they actually milled it out (the black paint) to make me feel like there’s less loft on it. Because it was black, the color change was stronger. I told them my center shafts all look too lofty. They look too behind [the face]. So what they did was – I had no idea they did it – but they shaved off the color so I could see less loft on it. It’s the same thing, it’s just a different color. It doesn’t make me feel like there’s a lot of loft on it.
“It’s a very, very unique putter. The head has been used before, but there’s a lot of details that people don’t really know. It’s a cool putter they made for me. The team did a great job back at home.
“Right now, it’s just helping me feel more connected with my upper body. I’ve always used a blade. I went to the center shaft a little bit before, but I’ve putted my best with a hosel in the back, and I just feel like it started to feel like I just couldn’t really feel it through the release itself.
“And, the start lines were a little shaky, so that kind of made me feel like everything was in front of me. [The center shaft] helps me just feel like the ball was starting straight on my line.”
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the putter in our GolfWRX Forums
6) Chris Kirk’s black Callaway Apex CB irons
We saw Kirk switch into Callaway’s Apex CB irons – which were the stock silver/chrome color – at the 2023 FedEx St. Jude Classic last year, but, we also know that Kirk prefers the look of black irons because they make the head look slightly smaller.
Well, it looks like Kirk is testing out some new black-colored Apex CB irons, which combine the forgiveness of the Apex CB iron head, with the “smaller looking” black colorway that Kirk prefers. He still had his old chrome versions in the bag on Wednesday, to go along with the new black models, so we’ll keep an eye on what irons Kirk decides to put in the bag come competition time.
Don’t be surprised if he switches this week, or sometime in the near future.
See what GolfWRX members are saying Kirk’s new black Apex CB irons here
7) Knapp wins with two drivers in the bag
We already covered Knapp’s two-driver setup on GolfWRX.com and PGATOUR.com, but I wanted to re-emphasize how popular it’s becoming that PGA Tour players are using both a driver and a mini driver, rather than a driver and a 3-wood. Adam Scott and Tommy Fleetwood also come to mind.
I’m not saying you should switch to a setup like this for yourself, but even Knapp says that the BRNR Mini driver is significantly easier to hit than a three wood. When pros say things like that, it’s a cue to amateurs to at least test out its merits for themselves.
8) Make the forums go crazy, Jake!
We’ve already covered a few putters in this story, but still, the Custom Putter of the Week Award goes to Jacob Bridgeman, who showed off his Scotty Cameron putter with a “commando” finish and three white alignment lines.
GolfWRX Forums members weren’t ready for this type of heat, and some even slapped the “NSFW” tag on the putter photos.
Don’t hurt ’em, Jake!
See what else the forum members are saying about Bridgeman’s custom Scotty here
9) Left-handed NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s right-handed golf clubs
Tua isn’t the first person ever to throw a football left-handed and play golf right-handed. Jordan Spieth is the same way. But, admittedly, it did throw me for a spiral when I first saw Tua swinging righty.
Too bad Tua can’t throw a spiral himself!
Sorry, that was a mean attempt at a pun. I’m a Giants fan, though, we can’t help it.
In terms of Tua’s WITB, he was gaming mostly PXG clubs, including a driver, fairway wood, irons, wedges, and a putter. He also had a Callaway Jaws lob wedge in the bag during the Wednesday Pro-Am, just to keep things interesting.
Something tells me the next time we see Tua on the golf course, he’ll be using a custom Miami Dolphins SuperStroke grip on his PXG putter.
And, with that cross-sport connection, we say goodbye to Palm Beach Gardens. We’ll see you next week in Orlando at Arnie’s Place for the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational. See you there!
Check out all of our photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic here
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Where’s the big donkey Kuchar?