Podcasts
TG2: Should Tiger Woods play in The Masters without a driver?
Tiger Woods’ No. 1 concern heading into the Masters is the driver, according to Notah Begay. Equipment expert Brian Knudson and Editor Andrew Tursky argue whether Tiger should even use a driver during the Masters. Also, they discuss Rory’s new prototype putter and how it was made, and they talk about a new shaft company called “LA Golf Shafts.”
Listen to the full podcast on SoundCloud below, or click here to listen on iTunes!
For more info on the topics, check out the links below.
- Rory’s putter: www.golfwrx.com/503976/rory-mcilr…rmade-soto-proto/
- Tiger’s driver: www.golfwrx.com/503940/tiger-wood…irms-notah-begay/
- LA Golf Shafts: www.golfwrx.com/503818/la-golf-pa…s-la-golf-shafts/
Club Junkie
Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast
The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.
If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.
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Instagram: @clubjunkiepod
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Threads: @clubjunkiepod
X: @ClubJunkiePod
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Club Junkie
Club Junkie: Ping i540 irons review + L.A.B. VZN.1i putters and Graphite Design shaft sightings
On this episode of Club Junkie, I dive into the brand-new Ping i540 irons and talk about where they fit in the lineup, their performance on the course, and who I think they are really made for. There is a lot to love — and maybe one complaint in the new i540 irons.
The show also covers the new L.A.B. VZN.1i putters that have started showing up, plus some new Graphite Design Tour AD shafts spotted out on the PGA Tour and what makes them interesting. Wrapping things up, I might swap a few shafts into some putters and talk through how those changes might completely alter feel and performance.
Follow Club Junkie on social media:
- Instagram: @clubjunkiepod
- X: @ClubJunkiePod
- TikTok: @clubjunkiepod
- Threads: @clubjunkiepod
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ChipNRun
Mar 24, 2018 at 11:54 pm
Tiger should try it without a driver. It will give the announcers something to talk about besides the wind that swirls through Rae’s Creek on No. 12.
Jeffrey
Mar 24, 2018 at 2:21 am
He will miss the cut, so who cares?
Brandon
Mar 23, 2018 at 2:56 pm
Keep the driver but swing slower! is their really a need to have a swing speed that high at Augusta. But who am i!?
Lanny Poffo
Mar 23, 2018 at 12:17 pm
Needs to back to the 2016 M2. Problem solved.
HDTVMAN
Mar 23, 2018 at 12:17 pm
The M3 pictured is a 460 with weights towards draw and low CG. Maybe he needs to cut it down one inch, or just go with a strong 13.5 3-wood off the tee and the long-iron stinger when appropriate. I agree that he needs to slow it down to around 120mph for more control, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him drop the driver, at least for the the first round. If he does well, drop it completely. I would love to see him hit Tony Finau’s Ping G400MAX, which according to a recent driver comparison test, showed that model to be the most forgiving of any driver on the market.
m4ximusprim3
Mar 23, 2018 at 12:01 pm
No.
D Copp
Mar 23, 2018 at 8:33 am
Go back to a Nike Ignite 360cc driver. He likes the smaller head stuff anyways. Why not at least try one reshafted with a Mitsubishi or whatever it is he usually plays. He is supposedly using Nike (Muira) irons anyways.
Mark Carr
Mar 23, 2018 at 8:24 am
Maybe swallow his pride and stick a 3 wood shaft in there? Also, go back to the 2016 M2!
JG
Mar 23, 2018 at 2:26 am
How about Should Eldrick Woods play in the Masters. Period.
ron
Mar 23, 2018 at 1:12 pm
and why would that be a worthy question?
Tiemco
Mar 23, 2018 at 2:18 am
Am I the only one who sees a problem with Tiger swinging at 125-9 mph with his driver? Bring it down to 118-120, and maybe he can keep it in the fairway.
Ryan Michael
Mar 22, 2018 at 7:27 pm
He just needs to smooth it out over the weekend. He gets into position during the first two rounds with a smoother tempo than when he gets into contention the tempo gets noticeably quicker and he gets stuck or flips it OB on 16. He even said in his post round at the Palmer Invitational interview that out of the 3 options on 16 he just wanted to “bomb it” which is not a good thought process heading towards Augusta. I would think that focusing on a smoother tempo would be the best place to start.
Chris
Mar 23, 2018 at 10:40 pm
I always thought of Augusta as a bombers course, where it’s important to have as short of an iron into the super fast greens as possible. It’s not a US Open set-up by any means.
Mike C
Mar 22, 2018 at 7:18 pm
He should definitely play The Masters without a driver. That’s assuming his goal is to make the cut on the number and finish 50th. It’s a major with monster par 4’s and par 5’s that are the key to winning the tournament and by the way, no rough to speak of yet some genius is wondering if Tiger should play without a driver. I have to go scream into a pillow now.
Chris
Mar 23, 2018 at 10:42 pm
I agree, Augusta is a typical bombers course. We’re not talking about som ultra-narrow US Open track here.
Tartan Golf Travel
Mar 22, 2018 at 5:40 pm
But he’s the favorite. How is this possible that the favorite can’t hit a wood? He won’t win until he can at least 3 wood. He hitting that terrible too just not as terrible! Really going to be interesting because most holes at Augusta are better hitting a draw off the tee. Tiger can not hit that shot right now.
dat
Mar 22, 2018 at 4:10 pm
He should go full Phil mode and play 2 drivers!
Steve
Mar 23, 2018 at 1:32 am
I carry two drivers… a 1-wood and a 2-wood. I use the 10.5º 1-wood for straight and power fades…. and the 12ª 2-wood for a draw shot. I don’t carry a 3-wood only a 4-wood and then go into hybrids and 6-9 irons and 4 wedges …. oh… I also carry two putters …. 😮
Daniel
Mar 24, 2018 at 7:37 am
That would be at least 15 clubs u use then…
ogo
Mar 22, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Ditch the 3-wood and get a 14º Bang Yellow Mellow 420cc driver that will give the distance and control:
http://www.banggolf.com/prodgroup.asp?cat=DRVMY
Steve
Mar 23, 2018 at 1:33 am
LOL … a Bang driver would suit Tiger… since he’s so good at banging !!
Colin Reddick
Mar 22, 2018 at 3:00 pm
its because on tour the rough isnt really rough. the first and second cut is like the overgrown fairways at our local munis here in Atlanta so its like why not pull the driver out. they’re the best in the world they can hit out the “rough” no problem all day. Let Big Cat LaFlare bring the boom stick out at Augusta and let him wow us with his misread club head speed.
Someone
Mar 22, 2018 at 2:28 pm
Maybe he’s working on his scramble game… perhaps he’s better at scrambling than he is at regulation.
John Fiander
Mar 22, 2018 at 2:26 pm
He should go back to the driver he used in the Bahamas
Brian
Mar 22, 2018 at 1:06 pm
He should go to a steel shafted 975D.
Simms
Mar 22, 2018 at 2:05 pm
It could be something a lot of players should try…but I think most if not all top players are still trying to use clubs the major OEMs are pushing for the money…It is funny the major OEM’s want us to believe they can fit us (sometimes for hundreds of dollars) when players like Tiger and Phil cannot hit a fairway with their prducts?????
JW
Mar 23, 2018 at 5:31 am
Except his current 3 wood is basically the size of a 975D anyway and the same shaft length…
TW should keep doing what he’s been doing and work on the driver leading up to The Masters. It’s NOT the club it’s his confidence with that specific club. He’s swinging the irons beautifully… and chipping and putting well enough to win. Good news for TW- he’s long enough to win at Augusta without driver. My guess is he only hits it on a handful of holes… and really the only holes I think he’s giving up anything to the field is #11 and possibly #15 depending on the tees and pin placement where he could be coming into that green with 2-3-4 clubs difference with the driver. The rest of the course he can score hitting 3W and utility iron off the tee.
Eric B
Mar 22, 2018 at 1:04 pm
Of course there’s concern, but he cant find the fairway with his 3 wood at times either. Might as well bomb driver as far down there as he can.