Equipment
Tiger spotted testing new driver shaft at St. Andrews
Tiger Woods was spotted testing a new driver shaft during a practice round at St. Andrews, site of the upcoming 2015 Open Championship.
From what we can discern in the photo posted in the forums, he’s testing a Matrix TP7HDe. Sources say the shaft is an X-Flex that weighs 78 grams un-cut and measures 44.5 inches in overall length with no tipping.
Most recently at The Greenbrier Classic — where he finished T32 — Woods had a Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana Blue Board Prototype 70X shaft in his Nike Vapor Speed Prototype driver.
Related
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.
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
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”
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Memorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Equipment6 days agoMemorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
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News2 weeks agoRussell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
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Whats in the Bag4 days agoJ.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
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Equipment3 days agoBest irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
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Equipment1 week agoDetails on Jason Day’s latest prototype Avoda iron setup
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Equipment3 weeks agoCJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
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News2 weeks agoCharles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
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Equipment2 weeks agoDetails on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
Sargio_Gercia
Jul 17, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Cut the driver down to about 40 inches 🙂
Smile a little and actually mean it
Be nice to people
Exhibit gratitude
You can only blame circumstance for so long in your life
Chill the funk out
Then just grip it and rip it…
Brian
Jul 22, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Agreed. Be genuine. I think Tigers dad created a winner, but not a Champion (Think Jack Nicklaus arm around Tom Watson after Tom won at Turnberry in 77, honestly happy for Tom). If Tiger never wins another tournament, but becomes a great father to his children, he will have acheived success.
Pingback: Tiger Spotted Testing a MATRIX Shaft at The Open - D'Lance GolfD'Lance Golf
Bar
Jul 15, 2015 at 1:13 pm
Could be wrong but the last time he won at St Andrews he never hit a wood all week. What makes him think he needs to change now .
JT
Jul 15, 2015 at 5:30 pm
He said publicly a few days ago that the course is completely different from the last time he played it, and conditions are softer requiring more carry shots, so even more important to hit quality tee shots.. you probably are wrong about never hitting a wood and winning the British open..
Dunn2500
Jul 15, 2015 at 2:22 am
I am not a huge woods fan but funny to me how people who will never be near his status can comment about him……stick a camera in your face every second of every day and see how you would react……have all these reporters talk trash on you and see how you would treat them…..none of you have an ounce of his golfing ability but you have audacity to critique his golf game ( and you can’t even break 90)…..he is human and has made same mistakes everyone here has but he is less than you?…….have the media publicize all your dirty laundry and see how well you take it…….nobody here knows how to do what he has done both good and bad in front of whole world and still be standing……..my guess is 99% would have folded like Appalachian lawn chair in any of his successes or failures. …….that’s why he is who he is……..I am not a huge fan of woods but I have respect for what he has done and had to go through while the whole world is watching. ……I know I couldn’t have done it…….as far as his golf game I can’t comment as he is far better than me so really what could I possibly have to say ……I shot 80 today with dbl and a trple……pretty sure he would have wiped my a$% had he been there playing in my group, lol
ooffa
Jul 15, 2015 at 10:03 am
I dunno, Would he have to give you strokes? Sounds like you would have beat him pretty badly and taken him for a few presses as well.
Skip
Jul 15, 2015 at 1:16 pm
Well said.
FTWPhil
Jul 16, 2015 at 3:19 pm
You wasted a lot of strokes on ………….’s
FergMan
Jul 14, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Tiger Woods is Golf, people. The hardcore fan may not give a damn but the weekend hacker who watches major tourneys only wants the headlines which is Tiger Woods. I can’t wait to follow every shot come Thursday morning and if you have a problem with all the headlines, simply avoid clicking on the story. You searched and came here and read the article so quit hating. We’ll see you all when his reign of terror on tour returns. He is too great to not come back.
Cyd
Jul 15, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Tigger is not golf. The game is bigger than eldrick. You sir are a maroon!
FTWPhil
Jul 16, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Last time I checked we have the freedom to express our opinions without the need to qualify ourselves as experts of anything except our thoughts. So deal with that before you jump on your high horse. The world has vast amounts of perception that differs from your life experiences, and sometimes they can be enlightening. So accept the fact that we all don’t feel the way you do.
P.S. Anything to help him win is good.
ooffa
Jul 13, 2015 at 7:19 pm
He should just test out a senior flex shaft and be done with it. He’ll never win on the regular tour again anyway.
Mat
Jul 13, 2015 at 7:39 pm
yeah, like you’ve ever won anything great. Troll.
ooffa
Jul 18, 2015 at 5:09 pm
See, told ya so. Another missed cut at the Open. It’s not trolling if you’re right.
Booger
Jul 13, 2015 at 11:29 am
Who cares. I’m sick of the fake smile on all his press photos. Miss the cut so I can enjoy watching this weekend !!
Josh
Jul 13, 2015 at 2:22 pm
If so sick of him why click the link to a story about him?
Mat
Jul 13, 2015 at 7:41 pm
hey Booger Troll, stop complaining and lets see u make a title of an article here
Ballstrikka
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:38 pm
Phil Pickleson would. Sergio Garcia would. Just face it, Eldrick hates his fan base and treats them accordingly. Live a little and splurge on a PGA Tour ticket and watch his behavior towards young fans and kids that show up dressed like him. He all but ignores them and can be quite rude. His attitude at his own tourney location in Los Angeles was atrocious and left a lot to be desired. This, and how he dumped his family is WHY the reactions are the way they are. This is what he signed up for, so he
has to weather the ^@*t storm at every turn of his life until his retirement day on the Senior errrrrrr,
Champions Tour. More than a handful of us will not be won back with a simple flash of his pearly whites and tip of his cap. Feeling sorry for THIS guy, uhhhhhh, no and *@ll no!
Cyd
Jul 15, 2015 at 7:13 pm
+1000
FTWPhil
Jul 16, 2015 at 3:16 pm
and 1
Chuck
Jul 12, 2015 at 3:15 pm
My gosh; it occurs to me that any other player on the PGA Tour could demo a new driver, a new driver shaft, a new putter — whatever — and the general reaction might be interest in the new equipment, curiosity about what the player is looking for technically, and maybe even whether they should try that product themselves.
I see a lot of the reactions here, and I actually have some sympathy for Tiger.
It is personal to Tiger, right? Is there any other player who would get this reaction?
Ballstrikka
Jul 12, 2015 at 1:57 pm
While he’s at it, let’s test some new “putting” strokes! My friends, this guy has become pedestrian at best from 6-12 feet. He’s pulled his whatever generation golf shoes out of retirement, let’s dust off
the 2000 putting stroke too.
Greg
Jul 12, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Might help him shoot 75 instead of 80????.
JuNiOR
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:51 pm
Indian or Arrow?
Jeff
Jul 13, 2015 at 2:55 am
Oh dude. That’s racist.
Lane
Jul 13, 2015 at 9:26 am
It is the Indian, not the arrows. And if you seriously think is racist you need to get a life.
other paul
Jul 14, 2015 at 8:03 am
Is it the white guy or the rifle….? Less racist? Or equally racist?
FTWPhil
Jul 16, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Yeah, we all know Indians use fake American names at customer service call centers, not arrows.
Christosterone
Jul 12, 2015 at 10:06 am
It’s an aertech fairway wood shaft….can’t believe people are not seeing that.
It is hard to believe Tiger would play a $59 shaft but that’s what it is:
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=351442201471&globalID=EBAY-US
-Christosterone
Chuck
Jul 12, 2015 at 3:21 pm
I would love it if this were actually true.
MHendon
Jul 14, 2015 at 12:43 am
No its a Matrix
Jonzone
Jul 15, 2015 at 1:17 am
Correct. Matrix Ozik TP7HD
Dan Nichele
Jul 14, 2015 at 4:47 am
Yeah cos the guy taking the photo and talking to tour reps knows less than you about what’s in tigers bag. Tool.
Matto
Jul 12, 2015 at 4:35 am
I hope he’s just testing it with no intention of using it. 3wood all the way at St. Andrews please, Tiger!
Dude
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:29 am
What happened to the AD-DI? He should go back to that.
Jeff*
Jul 12, 2015 at 12:11 am
Every half inch that comes off that driver, he hits it straighter. He’s absolutely my golf hero but I think he chases numbers he think he needs to be relevant and the numbers, spin rate, club head speed, smash factor, the numbers have nothing to do with fixing a fault when he’s nervous, facing pressure.
His club specs are for perfect conditions in a launch bay, for maximum ball-speed, every time he sacrifices “potential” or “hypothetical” club head speed, for control, by trimming his driver down closer to the length of his other 13 clubs, he hits it better and better.
His swing looks oily sweet and smooth on the range, if he ever did have the guts to put a 43.5″ steel shaft on that Vapor Driver, even painted like graphite, he’d be world #1 again in a few months.
Kyle
Jul 11, 2015 at 9:09 pm
Looked fine to me at greenbrier.
Jim
Jul 11, 2015 at 9:24 pm
I have a broken watch that is right twice a day too.
Pat M
Jul 12, 2015 at 10:40 am
What is he ranked? 215th in the world? Journeyman golfer.
Kyle
Jul 12, 2015 at 11:14 am
Just a brutal reply. Swing changes take time.
Slimeone
Jul 11, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Apparently it features space-age new anti-left/anti-right/anti-yip technology.