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Mickelson brings 8-year-old Callaway prototype hybrid to Memphis

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Update (June 9): Mickelson did not use the prototype hybrid in Round 1 of the FedEx St. Jude Classic. 

We spotted Phil Mickelson with a prototype Callaway hybrid in the bag at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. How do we know it’s a prototype? Well, that’s what it says on the sole.

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The hybrid is one of the most nondescript clubs we’ve seen on the PGA Tour from Callaway this year, at least in terms of graphics and features. The logos are old-school and so are the colors: black and silver. There’s also no adjustable hosel, moveable weights, and no carbon fiber as there is in Callaway’s new Epic hybrids.

According to a Callaway representative, there’s a reason for that. The hybrid is a prototype that “played a part in helping (Callaway) develop the shape of (its) current Steelhead XR Hybrid.”

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Maybe the most interesting feature of the club is its extremely rounded sole, which is also reminiscent of Callaway’s X Hot Pro hybrid that was released in 2012 garnered a cult-like following. Its added offset and curvaceous sole made it an incredible performer from the rough for many golfers.

Callaway told GolfWRX in 2012 was that the shape of the X Hot Pro was inspired by a hybrid Mickelson helped design for the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black to combat the deep rough. Based on the graphics on this hybrid, it appears this is that hybrid.

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The loft (22 degrees) is also significantly higher than the loft Mickelson generally uses in a hybrid (he’s often in the 17-19 degree range).

Related: See what GolfWRX Members are saying about Mickelson’s new hybrid. 

In other Mickelson news, the golfer announced earlier this week that he plans to skip the U.S. Open to attend his daughter’s high school graduation, where his daughter, the class president, is scheduled to speak. Golf fans have reacted with a petition to have the high school move its graduation day so Mickelson can play in the only major championship he’s yet to win.

13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. tadlehmann

    Jun 7, 2017 at 9:48 pm

    is it just a weird angle, or is this club as hooded as it appears? The address pic makes me feel like you’d have to lay that wide open just to hit it straight

  2. Blake

    Jun 7, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    Better looking club than most they have put out in the last 4-5 yrs

  3. Xav

    Jun 7, 2017 at 11:32 am

    If it works bag it! We should all aspire to put family ahead of golf. Way to go Phil!

  4. Ty Webb

    Jun 7, 2017 at 8:47 am

    That club is old he put it in play at the 2009 us open at bethpage.

    It’s a us open only club funny he is using it in Memphis if he is not playing in the us open??

    My guess he is and is waiting for an early tee time so he can fly back for the graduation.

    • xjohnx

      Jun 7, 2017 at 9:20 am

      Everything about it definitely fits in that era. Callaway has not used their logo without “golf” for many years.

      • xjohnx

        Jun 7, 2017 at 9:21 am

        I guess I should have said without “golf” or without the chevron below it.

  5. ooffa

    Jun 7, 2017 at 8:19 am

    Phil at a golf tournament. Interesting. He didn’t have to be at movie night with the Family?

    • Charlie

      Jun 7, 2017 at 9:47 am

      This is one of the dumbest comments I have ever seen on GolfWRX

    • Ckplus1

      Jun 7, 2017 at 10:01 am

      Yes , cause being a family man, supporting, proud father is so uncool?!? Ooffa, a little jealous??

      • V

        Jun 7, 2017 at 11:44 am

        No, ooffa just dumb

        • ooffa

          Jun 7, 2017 at 2:46 pm

          I thought you guys would be smart enough to recognize sarcasm. I was wrong, you’re not!

          • Mike

            Jun 8, 2017 at 5:15 pm

            There needs to be a sarcasm font that is universally accepted on this website

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Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report

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This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.

Joel Thelen

Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.

First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.

Mitchell Meissner

Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed. 

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Whats in the Bag

Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)

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Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.

Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX

7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX

Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

See more in-hand photos of Bud Cauley’s clubs here.

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Equipment

Name every set of irons you’ve owned – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.

@Lamosteve began:

Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine

Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6

Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. 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.

  • macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
  • JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
  • jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
    Mizuno MP-32
    Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
    Bridgestone J33cb – still own
    Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
    Tourstage X-Blades – still own
    Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
    Nike Forged Blades – still own
    Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
    Cobra Forged SS – still own”

Entire Thread: “Name every set of irons you’ve owned.”

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