Opinion & Analysis
PGA Tour Players With Surprisingly Average Clubs
I’m just as guilty as the rest of you guys. All those WITB posts come up each week at the tournaments and I comb through looking at all the eye candy. Those prototype driving irons, custom weld-neck putters, and exotic stamped wedges get all the heart-eye emojis flowing, don’t they? What I find most interesting is not the Porsches, however, but the Pintos.
These guys play golf for a living. Dropping $5,000 on a custom putter means nothing to them in the long run. Just shaving one stroke off their week’s showing can net 10 times that much or more in some cases. But if and when you find something that suits you perfectly, smart people don’t mess with it.
Steve Stricker’s Putter
I know Steve was sporting a Cameron at the PGA Championship last week, but he’s done that before on some rare occasions and went back to old reliable. This “jalopy” is one of my favorites for two reasons:
- I’m on a bit of a putting kick at the moment
- Steve Stricker is widely regarded as one of the best putters on tour.
The longtime Titleist-staffer could probably have any Scotty Cameron he wanted, but he’s rocking the old-school, Odyssey White Hot #2 with loads of lead tape on the bottom. You can currently pick up one of these bad boys for under $50 easily on the used market, but can you roll it like Steve? Doubtful. Dude is fourth on tour (FOURTH!) in total putting and makes over 90 percent of his putts (452 for 500) inside 10 feet. That’s insane. See Stricker’s Full WITB.
Hideki Matsuyama’s Driver
Man, that thing is roached. If I showed up to my local course with that bad boy, it’d probably draw quite the reaction. I could probably hear everyone thinking, “Oh, I got this dude, no problem.” If I could rock it half as good as Hideki (he’s 22nd on tour in driving distance at 304.3 yards and 11th in strokes gained off the tee), I’d be laughing all the way to the bank, too… even if I did pause long enough for a cigarette at the top of my backswing… See Matsuyama’s Full WITB.
Henrik Stenson’s 3 wood
Ah, the Callaway Diablo Octane…released in late 2010. By tour standards, it belongs in the Smithsonian at this point. If it helps you win the Open Championship, an Olympic silver medal, and become the European Tour player of the year all in the same year, though, it stays in the bag until you feel compelled to change it. Period. See Stenson’s Full WITB.
Most of Padraig Harrington’s Bag
The 3-time major winner has quite the quiver doesn’t he? At least in this 2016 version. He features a mostly Wilson Staff bag, including a putter that can currently be had for 100 bones brand new. Sprinkle in a TaylorMade AeroBurner driver and Ping Eye 2 Gorge wedge and you may not have a masterpiece in the eyes of a lot of GolfWRXers, but if it pays the bills, who cares? See Harrington’s Full WITB.
What are your favorite WITBs? Any long-standing clubs in your bag that you never see yourself parting with? Comment below, but the first person who says, “It’s not the arrow” loses 1,000 points.
This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
View this post on Instagram
Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
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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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.
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Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
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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...
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mb
Nov 27, 2018 at 10:09 pm
I just stumbled on this write up, classic how much money & a career has Steve Stricker had with this putter? that’s selling for $30 on ebay love-it.
Anderson Dave
Aug 13, 2018 at 9:13 pm
I still have my Tour Exotics CB2 hybrids, I think I bought them used in 2009. I have tried to replace them, they don’t look great, but I can’t find anything that works better. I have a friend that is still playing his Australian Blade from at least 20 years ago. He has nearly worn them out and there is nothing out there like them. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it…
Tom
Jul 17, 2018 at 12:17 pm
Manufacturers have pushed to the USGA’s performance limits, nothing of any improved significance is possible….just new shiny stuff!
Peter Schmitt
Aug 21, 2017 at 11:32 am
As if on cue, Henrik rides the mighty Diablo 3 wood to victory at the Wyndham the same week this gets posted. The best part? He didn’t even carry a driver. Boom!
Indian
Aug 21, 2017 at 3:31 am
It’s not the arrow it’s the….oh, whoops.
TG
Aug 19, 2017 at 7:45 pm
They don’t pay for clubs though so why would they “drop” 5000 on a putter…
Ryan
Aug 19, 2017 at 7:07 pm
Adam Scott’s irons are still pretty old. Titleist 680 MB’s from 2005. If his lofts are standard, it’s even crazier. PW at 48*!! That’s pretty awesome to me
Jesper Pickering
Aug 19, 2017 at 1:49 pm
Sometimes the pure joy of a shiny new toy is all it takes for me to buy new gear. Will it perform better? Properly not, just like my new pair of jeans aren’t better than the old ones. BUT they look and feel danm good…until a cooler pair is on display in the shop window ????
Mark
Aug 19, 2017 at 9:13 am
Sold a Scottsdale answer years ago for $1,900. Read here recently that they now bring $120. I have one in the garage. And what about the Wilson 8802, armour img5, geo low of nicklaus, faldos taylomade viii?
BIG STU
Aug 19, 2017 at 2:21 am
I have been saying it for years and most folks do not listen. BTW the model of Odyssey Stricker uses is a copy of a old Ping Zing 2. What would surprise most is the age of the equipment used on the Champion’s Tour. I have always been of the addage of using what works no matter the age or brand
Elf
Aug 18, 2017 at 11:48 pm
Cool aicle. I’ve often assumed Odyssey (etc) replaced inserts for the pros though they tell we mortals it isn’t possible for them to do. Stricker’s insert looks way too clean (compared to the rest of the club) to be original IMO.
rex235
Aug 18, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Bobby Nichols won the Dow Jones Open ($60K) with a $5 putter.
Never saw anything in Bob Charles bag other than a Bullseye.
Bullseyes have won Majors in 5 different decades. Even Nicklaus used one for a US Open win.
Nicklaus’ 3 wood was in his bag for 30+years.
Oldest club in my bag? -27 years 19 Degree Taylor Made Tour Cleek II.
Strickers putter epitomizes the adage “If it ain’t broke….”
Dude
Aug 18, 2017 at 10:10 pm
What about Rory McIlroy’s Nike irons. H he should go back to them since he won with them.
Iman
Aug 18, 2017 at 8:25 pm
Don’t forget Adam Scott with his 690.MB iron set. By tour standards, it belongs to his grand-grandfather.
Walt
Aug 18, 2017 at 5:00 pm
Looking more closely at the sole of the White Hot and that’s gotta be lead tape plastered to the sole.
Also, the plastic face insert of his old putter has got to be slightly worn on the sweet spot making it slightly concave-ish and cups the ball, ya think?
Todd
Aug 19, 2017 at 8:41 pm
FYI lead is about 50% heavier than stainless steel, so 2 strips of lead is equal to 3 strips of equivalent steel. So next time you see lead tape you will know.
Walt
Aug 18, 2017 at 4:55 pm
Real golfers don’t change their equipment when the OEMs bring out their ‘new’ models. It’s because they don’t find fault in their equipment. The challenge is within their body, mind and the golf course. That’s how real golf is played.
Caddy
Aug 18, 2017 at 5:59 pm
Nailed it.
Walt
Aug 18, 2017 at 6:16 pm
And if a golfer continuously doubts his equipment they cannot swing with confidence.
I’ve golfed with people who cursed their equipment when they screw up and when it’s obvious the problem is within themselves. They refuse to see it or admit it.
Such people can never be wrong because in their minds they are perfect and successful men. They cannot face their failure and direct their anger against their clubs to hide from their incompetence.
I jokingly told one such golfer that he’s not good enough to blame his clubs, and he got very angry at me. Never again because these types are dangerous.
Vic
Aug 18, 2017 at 10:50 pm
This is GolfWRX for c’sake man not psych 101.
Walt
Aug 19, 2017 at 1:01 pm
Just sharing my experiences and my conclusions about some bad golfers and their club hate. I love my clubs because they behave exactly as I expect them to perform. What’s your problem?
calc
Jun 29, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Vic is a golffing psychopath who sees himself in Walt’s analysis.
Benny
Jul 18, 2018 at 3:54 pm
It’s really simple. If you lose confidence in a club you get a little bit of doubt. When it comes to golf that little doubt will fester and grow. Yeah we all know it’s in our heads and not the arrow Walt. But even the best in the world don’t change because of the exact same doubt bud. A new club will not give them that comfort.
It’s nice to get new sneakers sometimes or splurge to make ourselves feel good. If we can pretend only for a moment a Tour Player used that Tour Issued putter the gain in confidence can always help the game. Especially for us “incompetent” kind.
Ben Jones
Aug 18, 2017 at 3:49 pm
Still going back to the Bullseye to fix my putting woes.
Walt
Aug 19, 2017 at 1:03 pm
Bullseye is a pure putter uncompensated for an inconsistent putting stroke and bad impact. It’s a test of your putting stroke control. All the other fancy putters are intended for golfers who want their putter to do the putting for them.
peter collins
Aug 18, 2017 at 3:04 pm
I am after a Odyssey Black Series i #7 Putter (2008)
I tried the club pro’s and putted the best i have for a long time.
Has a forum member got one for sale, or know where i can get one from please.
JMcDonough07
Aug 19, 2017 at 7:39 pm
I do.
Don
Aug 18, 2017 at 2:35 pm
Corey Pavin still uses a bronze bull’s eye. Makes Strick’s Odyssey just a youngster. Love to know Corey’s putting average. He’s one of the shortest drivers on tour and can still compete.
Peter Schmitt
Aug 18, 2017 at 2:45 pm
Oh man. I used to idolize Corey Pavin back in the day. I thought I was so cool when I bought a set of Cleveland VAS irons!
Dave C
Aug 18, 2017 at 10:58 pm
Did those not look like hossle rocket makers?
Ben Jones
Aug 18, 2017 at 2:02 pm
Lee Trevino winning the 74 PGA with a 15 year-old blade putter he found in some lady’s attic. Priceless! Just love the old clubs that keep us going. I still game a Fast 10 3-wood. Its the shaft and the pure looking head. Old Adams stuff is great.
George Walker
Aug 18, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Where is Brandt Snedeker’s putter? I have one similar to his and I believe it’s my last.
Peter Schmitt
Aug 18, 2017 at 2:47 pm
Sned’s and G-Mac’s putters were both on my short list. Ultimately I went with Steve’s because he’s just such a good putter. But yeah, those are both worthy contenders…
Rossie
Aug 19, 2017 at 1:57 am
Don’t forget Ryan Palmer either. He gamed an old Odyssey dual force rossie ii up until recent. He also still uses ap2 710’s.
Josh D
Jul 2, 2018 at 7:15 pm
Doesn’t Steve use the ap2 710’s or 712’s?
TeeBone
Aug 18, 2017 at 12:32 pm
As long as Tour players are paid to play equipment, we’ll never know what they would use if they were free to choose whatever they feel is best. But at the end of the day, “it ain’t the clubs”.
Rogerinnz
Aug 18, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Nothing wrong with a Great Odyssey Putter.
Just bought a set of Eye 2 irons this week.
Flashy vs Functional.
I recall a Futura thrown into a pond… not an Odyssey…
larrybud
Aug 18, 2017 at 12:00 pm
There’s just very little wiggle room for technological enhancements. Drivers are maxed at .860 COR, and balls are maxed (which is why pga driving average hasn’t moved in a dozen years).
That’s why we see pretty new colors and other things such as adjustable clubs (which IS a great innovation, but mostly for fitters rather than any real improvements which will make a player shoot a lower score.
In a way, club fitting has hurt the new market. Once you get fitted for a driver, there’s really no reason to get a new one unless the club wears out or your swing changes significantly enough warrant a new fitting. The marketing hype of “longer off the tee” is just that.
Joe
Aug 18, 2017 at 12:56 pm
I thot COR was set at 0.83.
OhioGolfDude
Aug 18, 2017 at 11:44 am
Fun article Peter! Don’t forget the history of Brandt Snedeker’s bag. Not sure what he’s gaming now, but I know last year at the AT&T Classic Pebble Beach he still had the old TM SuperFast in the bag along with a really old Odyssey Rossie. As for Hideki’s driver, yeah it’s pretty baked but definitely still a viable option. A lot of Cally staffers used the GBB until Epic came out. It only takes a quick view of the WITB section to see some older hangovers, like former Nike staffer Kyle Stanley sticking with an old Covert 5 wood in an otherwise all Titleist setup.
Steven Crowder
Aug 18, 2017 at 11:03 am
Nothing wrong with the Aeroburner driver. It’s only 2 years old. I like it better than my 2017 M2.
xjohnx
Aug 18, 2017 at 10:27 am
Definitely looks like the entire bottom of Hideki’s GBB was colored with a Sharpie. Wondering if that was something Srixon recommended or demanded or if he’s just expressing himself through art.
Johnnylongballz
Aug 18, 2017 at 10:13 am
When I find the putter that I make 492 out of 500 from inside 5 feet I will never change putters again. Until then ……. well, you know.
Benny
Jul 18, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Well said!!!
Holly Sonders
Aug 18, 2017 at 9:44 am
Exactly when has a tour pro ever paid $5k for a custom putter?
Peter Schmitt
Aug 18, 2017 at 10:41 am
5k was a purposely outlandish number. I wasn’t trying to say that they DO spend that much. Frankly I have no idea how much they spend and I don’t need to. I’m saying that even if they DID spend a stupid amount of dough on a club that takes one or two strokes off their rounds, it’s still a big time net positive for them. When guys stick with clubs that are over ~3 years old or so (normal for us but ancient for a tour pro), there’s a reason…
Barry
Aug 19, 2017 at 9:59 am
What the heck is wrong with you? Would you ever say something like that in real life?
Steven Crowder
Aug 19, 2017 at 2:18 pm
I would. Don’t know about the other guy.
Bester
Aug 19, 2017 at 4:29 pm
Golf aint real life it’s better.
Jim McIntosh
Aug 20, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Can you see your feet when you are putting?
JayG
Aug 18, 2017 at 9:40 am
IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT
ActualFacts
Aug 18, 2017 at 10:33 am
Exactly!!! Step down to the developmental professional golf tours and I’m sure you’ll see a lot more “surprisingly average” bags. The OEMs gear their marketing strategies towards folks like us (WRX’ers) who crave the latest and greatest by keeping their endorsees fitted and filmed with all of the new-new. Those same your pros could go out with equipment that’s 20 years old and perform just as well. It’s not the equipment. Those guys and gals really are that good.
Bester
Aug 19, 2017 at 4:28 pm
My clubs I bought last year are broke now cause they don’t hit the ball straight and far anymore. Whats the matter with those useless clubs.