Equipment

TOUR REPORT: Is this dented Odyssey putter from 2005 the second winningest putter ever on the PGA Tour?

Published

3 years ago

Apr 21, 2023

Welcome to the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, just outside of The Big Easy.

The vibes were especially relaxed this week in New Orleans – 1) because it’s a two-player team event, so players have a bit more camaraderie than most weeks, and 2) because players, caddies, and event-goers are simply excited to be in New Orleans to enjoy the food, weather, culture, and atmosphere.

As with every week on the PGA Tour, however, GolfWRX was there on serious business to explore the golf bags of event participants to see what clubs they’re using, testing, and switching into.

This week, we took a look into the bags of legends David Duval and Steve Stricker (and we spoke with Stricker in-depth about his famous Odyssey putter). We also highlighted Matt Fitzpatrick’s winning setup, Scott Piercy’s freshly lead-taped irons, TaylorMade’s custom New Orleans headcovers, a new Titleist prototype golf ball, the matching wedge stampings of Robert Streb and Troy Merritt, and we got a peek at some new prototype equipment from Odyssey, PXG and KBS shafts.

Below, we dive into a packed Tour Report from the Zurich Classic, but don’t forget to check out all of our photos from New Orleans in the GolfWRX Forums and on the @GolfWRX Instagram page.

A Matty Fitz bag update, fresh off the win in Hilton Head

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After winning the 2023 RBC Heritage last week, we had to catch up with Matt Fitzpatrick this week to see his winning setup in person. Of course, Fitzpatrick’s setup is highlighted by his Ping S55 irons, which have been in the bag for over a decade.

We spoke to Fitz for a PGATOUR.com story this week about why he’s still playing the models:

“I feel I’ve had success with them, so why change when you’re in winning form? That’s the big thing for me. I tested other irons a couple years ago in the summer, but these are just the best for me and they fit well. I don’t want to change and try to do anything too different. Just stay with the same.”

In addition to photographing Fitzpatrick’s full WITB in New Orleans, legendary GolfWRX photographer Greg Moore also got a full WITB for Alex Fitzpatrick, who is Matt’s brother and teammate in the two-player Zurich event.

Check out Matt and Alex’s WITBs.

Matching Nawlins-inspired wedge stamps

Some teams wear matching outfits, some have a secret handshake, and others, such as Troy Merritt and Robert Streb, have matching New Orleans-inspired Titleist Vokey wedge stampings. I assume these were hand-stamped and paint-filled by Vokey rep Aaron Dill, so shoutout to the wedge stamp master for duplicating the art on each wedge nearly perfectly. That must have taken some serious patience.

TaylorMa-Du-Monde

Cafe du Monde (French for Cafe of the World) is a New Orleans staple that’s known for its delicious coffee and beignets. The eatery is easy to spot with its green-and-white striped awning, plus the restaurant sells beignet mix and coffee with iconic yellow packaging.

TaylorMade captured the Cafe du Monde branding with custom putter and metalwood headcovers for the event.

See what GolfWRX members are saying about the covers in our forums

David Duval WITB

David Duval, playing alongside John Daly at the Zurich this week, is a self-proclaimed Golf Nerd (that is, at least, if you go by his putter cover). Throughout the years, Duval has brought endless nerd joy to GolfWRX readers and fans with his custom gear, but it’s been awhile since we’ve had the chance to catch up with Duval on his latest setup. We got a long overdue look at every club in Duval’s bag in New Orleans.

Check out Duval’s full 2023 WITB here

A prototype Odyssey putter

GolfWRX equipment expert Brian Knudson already weighed in with his thoughts on the Odyssey White Hot Versa 7CS prototype putter we spotted at the Zurich this week.

Knudson writes:

“The Odyssey #7 putter has been one of the most popular head shapes in golf. The “fang” style has influenced more than a few putters since it became popular. Odyssey makes a few variants of the #7 and we spotted what looks like a prototype version at the 2023 Zurich Classic. It looks like the head started out its life as a #7 “S” model with a small slant neck that is typically attached near the heel of the putter.”

Read the full story

Stricker speaks on his longtime Odyssey putter

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When I asked Stricker personally this week exactly when he put his Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter into play for the first time, he honestly wasn’t sure. He guessed around 2000-2001, but equipment switches from that long ago are difficult to pinpoint – that’s how long Stricker has been using this putter.

While the exact timing isn’t verified for certain, a Callaway-Odyssey representative estimated it was more like the beginning of 2005 that the putter went into play for the first time.

Either way, Stricker had the putter in the bag for nearly all of his 12 PGA Tour victories, and 12 PGA Tour Champions victories.

That leads me to a question: With over $40 million in career earnings, is Stricker’s putter the second most winning single golf club, money-wise, in history? Obviously, Tiger Woods’ Scotty Cameron putter is number 1. That’s not up for debate. Jack Nicklaus played with his George Low Wizard putter for years, too, but technically he only won $5.7 million throughout his PGA Tour career. Jordan Spieth and his Scotty Cameron 009 certainly have a nice financial relationship, as do Brandt Snedeker and his Odyssey Rossie II, but Stricker just might have second place locked up for now. What do you think?

Stricker has had some very brief flings with other models in the last 20 years, but he’s always come right back to the White Hot No. 2, and it was still in the bag this week at the 2023 Zurich Classic.

We caught up with Stricker for a deep dive into the putter, and here’s what he had to say about the putter (quotes edited for brevity):

You know, I don’t know if a (particular moment with the putter) stands out. I guess just the longevity of it, and Ryder Cups with it. I’ve made some big putts with it over my career. I’ve tried to go away from it at times, but I always gravitate back to it. It’s one of those things, it never goes too far away.

I’ve messed around with grips here or there. I’ve even used a wristlock. I actually won with that at the Bridgestone senior event, and I only did wristlock that one time…Yeah (I do my own putter work on it). I’m noticing that my lead tape is starting to wear off and sliding over, but it’s probably around D2. I had it at D4 starting this year. I’m losing tape as we keep putting it in and out of the bag.

My daughters pick it up every now and then and take a putt with it. Jonathan Byrd picked it up yesterday, and he’s like, ‘Wow, does this feel good.’

It’s one of those things, it feels good, it looks good, and it’s been in my hand a long time. It’s hard to look at something else in my hand.

Check Stricker’s full WITB in our GolfWRX Forums, and read our full deep dive into the putter over on PGATOUR.com

New prototypes from PXG, Titleist, and KBS

Curious for more information and photos on the new PXG Dagger+ putter? Brian Knudson has all the details here.

Knudson also went deep into a new, higher-spinning Titleist Pro V1+ golf ball…

…as well as a bevy of new KBS prototype putter shafts, made in all sorts of vibrant colorways.

The King claims his crown

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Sure, other golfers use lead tape on their clubs. Some even use a lot of it. But Scott Piercy is undeniably the King of Lead Tape, and he proved that once again this week at the 2023 Zurich Classic when he showed up to the event with a fresh set of Titleist irons that were slabbed to the moon with lead tape.

Unfortunately, with that, we say goodbye to New orleans and the Zurich Classic. GolfWRX wont be in attendance for the Mexico Open at Vidanta next week, but we’ll be back in full force in Charlotte for the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship.

Until then, enjoy all of our photos from this week at the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans here.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

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Whats in the Bag

Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)

Published

9 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100

Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.

Equipment

TaylorMade MySpider Tour and Tour X: More customizable build options now available

Published

9 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.

The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.

One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.

Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.

See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:

MySpider Tour

MySpider Tour X

Equipment

Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory

Published

12 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.

McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.

So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?

Driver

2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)

McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.

What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)

The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.

Fairway woods

2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X

The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.

The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.

Irons

2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0

The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.

With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.

Wedges

2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.

Putter

2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.

Ball

2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)

As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

Grips

2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC

Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.