Equipment
TaylorMade and Sergio Garcia part ways after 15 years… where to next?
When we recently spotted Sergio Garcia with a custom Odyssey Toulon putter, and then later using a Callaway Mack Daddy wedge in competition (pictured below), it seemed to be only a matter of time that TaylorMade and Garcia would soon part ways. That day has now come, as TaylorMade announced in a statement today that the Garcia-TaylorMade marriage has ended after 15 years.
“Today, after a memorable 15 year partnership with Sergio Garcia, we have mutually agreed on a release from the remaining years of his TaylorMade contract,” a TaylorMade spokesperson told us. “It has been an honor to play a role in his performance throughout his career, including The Players Championship, 19 worldwide wins, Ryder Cup heroics and his 2017 Masters win. We congratulate Sergio on a career year and wish him all the best for the future.”
Using a bag full of TaylorMade golf clubs, Garcia won the 2017 Masters to get himself off of the “best player without a major” list. As highlighted by TaylorMade’s statement, since 2003 when he joined TaylorMade from Titleist, Garcia also won The Players Championship, had 19 worldwide wins, and constantly tormented Team USA in the Ryder Cup on alternating years.
As his recent club testing decisions imply, the most likely candidate for Garcia’s next club sponsor would be Callaway, but the company has yet to comment on the matter. We’ll update this story as more information becomes available.
Equipment
Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory
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.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @Putt4Dough is selling some prototype wedges from Vokey Wedgeworks. These include a 54 degree wedge with the M grind and a 60 degree wedge with a T grind.
From the listing:
(1) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 54M with a Tour Issue DGS400 shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet (logo down). Standard length, lie, and loft. BB&F ferrule. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.
(2) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 60T with a KBS Tour 130X shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet. Standard length, lie, and loft. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 70 6.5
5-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (18 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 80 TX
Irons: Srixon ZXiU (23 degrees), Srixon Z785 MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 100 6.5 (4), KBS Tour 130 X
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (50-08F, 54-10S, 58-04T @59)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey Dual Force Rossie II
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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LEWIS
Nov 3, 2017 at 10:10 am
Looks like its mizuno irons now guys
Forsbrand
Oct 11, 2017 at 2:11 pm
Is I because he has just been advised that Rory and tiger are major shareholders in Taylormade, part of eh private equity buyout?
Mister Tom
Oct 11, 2017 at 10:13 am
Contrary to a lot of people here, my opinion is this isn’t a decision that Garcia made. This isn’t his decision. This is a young man’s game and the needle is being pushed due to all the “2011” high-school graduates. Adidas, Taylormade, Nike, etc, are looking to use their sponsorship dollars with player brands that grow the game and grow their revenue, and Garcia isn’t growing a brand’s awareness despite having the Masters under his belt. People aren’t buying Adidas shoes or Taylormade clubs because Sergio sports their logo, they are because Dustin Johnson carries the gear.
Sponsorship for a young man is an island paradise and an old man’s graveyard. For example, Phil isn’t moving the needle much, and I would imagine Callaway has or is renegotiating his contract terms. I mean, how can Callaway afford to continue to pay Mickelson $35MM/yr, and why would they? He cannot hit a fairway, so why would that help Callaway’s driver sales?
All this talk about Tiger and his new “irons” and his swing? Seriously? The game has moved on and has embraced the young guns.
Thomas A
Oct 11, 2017 at 11:35 am
Callaway just signed Phil to a career contract. Sergio definitely moves the needle internationally.
smitty
Oct 11, 2017 at 1:16 am
TM dumped Sergio to make way for Tiger’s comeback…. and they are betting a big bagful of $$$$$ on the Resurrection of The Tigerman.
Shane
Oct 10, 2017 at 11:36 pm
Sergio Garcia had a lot of talent but has under performed over the years and it was not due to equipment. In light of his Masters win Garcia probably wanted more money and TM said no because from a marketing perspective they don’t need him as they have new blood like John Rahm to capture the Spanish market.
Anders
Oct 12, 2017 at 7:23 am
This.
alvin
Oct 10, 2017 at 10:24 pm
Sergio Sergio, I bought TM clubs because of you!!
I love you Sergio but what should I do with my new TM clubs now that you are leaving TM?
I’m verklempt ….. oooh Sergio
UnclePhil
Oct 10, 2017 at 10:09 pm
I just read that Target is making a strong run at him with his own custom line of Northwesterns!
Reno
Oct 10, 2017 at 11:07 am
Who cares.
golfraven
Oct 10, 2017 at 8:20 am
I think he also lost it after recent putter incident. Please give him a ‘decent’ putter for heaven’s sake!
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:39 am
It’s not the arrow it’s the Indian.
Head case. What a waste of talent.
ibo
Nov 8, 2017 at 2:02 am
$46M throughout his career. 20 international victories including a The Players and The Masters. Truly a waste of talent.
golfraven
Oct 10, 2017 at 8:17 am
I guess Sergio can’t hit it as far as the driver promises (he should hit it longer than Rory after what TM claimed in recent years) so he is taking off the hat and quits it – simples. I can’t blame him, who wants to have the shortest in the bunch?
Jacked_Loft
Oct 10, 2017 at 4:21 am
More than likely it’s because that Sergio originally signed with Adidas, and the TM contract was part of the total deal. Now that Adidas and TM have parted, TM would probably have to pay more for SG than before, and that would be just too much all factors considered.
Robert Parsons
Oct 9, 2017 at 5:44 pm
He’s in talks to go under contract as I type.
Nobody signs players like we do. Period.
rymail00
Oct 9, 2017 at 7:11 pm
HAHA
Robert Parsons
Oct 9, 2017 at 5:43 pm
How soon till your post is removed?
Nobody deletes posts like we do. Period.
Jack Nash
Oct 9, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Only a matter of time before he stepped away from the garbage. He got them their Major, now he smartens up.
Steven
Oct 10, 2017 at 11:07 pm
That garbage is the best driver and 5 wood I’ve hit in my life. It’s kind of stupid to call the best drivers on the PGA Tour garbage.
And the Champions Tour Players who don’t get paid to play a driver? Most are using M2. They seem to like the garbage a lot.
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:40 am
You mean the driver that they are paying the most to the players to use. These guys could use anything.
M. Vegas
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Where’s the acid faces that want Sergio with Mizuno
Brian
Oct 10, 2017 at 9:44 am
You mean “where’re”, right? “Where is the acid faces…” Does that sound right to you?
M. Vegas
Oct 10, 2017 at 2:17 pm
No, I like where’s…
I feel like that’s how I would say it if I was talking
DT
Oct 10, 2017 at 3:32 pm
Since “acid faces” is plural, “where are” is grammatically correct.
Steve Hamer
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:14 pm
there club are made for them not we get in the stores no mater what name is on them
M. Vegas
Oct 10, 2017 at 7:11 pm
Almost coherent Gump
Garry Pierce
Oct 9, 2017 at 2:54 pm
I lost respect for him when hawked a luger in the cup, he is a.
LOSER
Sergio
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:20 pm
you are the loser. he won a lot of tournament, how about you?
JThunder
Oct 9, 2017 at 4:00 pm
He sold a gun during the Ryder Cup?
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:44 am
I call him spit boy. If he’d have done that in my group I’d have kicked his a$$.
Bob Parsons
Oct 9, 2017 at 1:28 pm
I’d like to welcome Sergio Garcia to the PXG family.
Darren Rovell
Oct 9, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Sources Close to ESPN: Sergio to PXG on a 15 year deal worth up to $690 million.
Garry Pierce
Oct 9, 2017 at 2:59 pm
I can’t believe that Parson’s going to pay that kind of money. I don’t see his irons at the courses where the guys that have the cash to buy them. Las Vegas – Palm Springs – LA area or in Phoenix. Where they selling?
Boss
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Alaska and Siberia, I hear they’re really good for ice fishing
henry
Oct 9, 2017 at 5:21 pm
my god Bob shut up
MB
Oct 9, 2017 at 10:03 pm
It’s Boss not Bob
moses
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:04 pm
.690 million. Fixed it for ya. 🙂
William Boulton
Oct 10, 2017 at 10:39 am
Congrats
Great player
I’d like to try your clubs anytime soon
WestPhi
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:59 pm
I wonder if PXG will take a stab at him…?
henry
Oct 9, 2017 at 9:24 pm
Parsons claims “to PXG” when any player becomes available. I mean for gods sake they just signed Paige Spirinac, whose only job in golf is to look pretty.
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:45 am
Wooooohoooooo!!!!
DaJudge
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:51 pm
Sergio is abandoning TM because he doesn’t want to be associated with a company that sells Fake-Forged P-790 cast steel body clubs. It’s simply unethical and devious and Sergio is a man of principles.
Joe Mcgillicuti
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Wake up and get in touch with reality guys. He’s already overpaid and now that he won the Masters, his price tag has gone up per his agent. He’s on the back 9 people. And now that he is married, that old work ethic will be a tad bit harder to execute. TaylorMade got his best years out of him. Callaway usually overpays guys like this after he’s been squeezed of all the juice. Once the kid comes, priorities will REALLY change
ND Hickman
Oct 9, 2017 at 1:35 pm
Let’s be frank. Does it really matter to us which club he plays? All credit to him. We wish him well.
Boss
Oct 9, 2017 at 3:27 pm
Hello Frank
ND Hickman
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:47 am
All credit to Frank.
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:46 am
Spit boy can clean the spittoons.
Boss
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Aaaaaah I see. It’s just more money that Callaway are willing to pay, for a guy who just won a major, who has that power of negotiation that TM wasn’t willing to give that extra bit more in renegotiation. Such a shame. The agents have so much power.
Matt
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:09 pm
This is a TM decision. They’re letting almost all their players go.
Slob
Oct 9, 2017 at 1:11 pm
And……. you’re an idiot.
JThunder
Oct 9, 2017 at 4:03 pm
What’s “such a shame” about any of this? It’s two multi-million dollar companies fighting over a millionaire wearing their hat. Want some better examples of shameful behavior by millionaires? I bet I could find a few.
Slob
Oct 9, 2017 at 5:08 pm
Sarcasm, you fool
Jack Matthews
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:03 pm
Interesting. I wonder if he does go to Callaway. It seems like their new driver (GBB Epic) is becoming very popular on tour. Also, I wonder if “playing what the pros play” is as important as it was a decade ago. It’s clear the OEMs are fighting it out for market share now that the club business is in somewhat of a decline. I guess having big name endorsers is still one way to compete.
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:47 am
These guys are all Brand ho’s.
TBone
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Wish he’d go back and to titleist. The 818 line is so pure.
rymail00
Oct 9, 2017 at 7:20 pm
That’d be cool. But Titleist seems to get them early and then they go to OEM’s who offer more.
Tom54
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:53 am
I see nothing wrong with Sergio switching golf equipment. Let’s face it to all us avid golf nuts can you honestly say you’ve stayed with one brand for 15 years. That’s half the fun trying the newest items out on the market regardless of who makes them. Other than being paid why should they be any different.
Matt
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:53 am
TM rumored to be going to a four (star) player sponsorship system. DJ, Rory, Rahm and JDay. Not sure what will happen to Rose, Woods etc, but Rosey likely to be the next to jump ship. They just need to spread the announcements out so it doesn’t look as bad.
AceVenturi
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:50 am
He is going to Callaway, 100%.
This will hurt TaylorMade as not only they’ve seen a major drop in sales and marketshare in every major region due to the Epic story, but also gets corroborated by one of their major Icons changing bag mid-contract. Sergio has been in TMs advertising each year for the last 15.
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:49 am
Who cares about a company that brings out “THE NEXT TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH” every 6 months?
Duncan Marc
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:24 am
Maybe he got tired of being asked to switch clubs every 6 weeks….
Shane
Oct 9, 2017 at 2:28 pm
Exactly. MAYBE he asked for more, or it was just time for a change. Funny how everyone seems quick to call the guy out! Always liked the guy and wish him the best, wherever he winds up!
cgasucks
Oct 9, 2017 at 2:58 pm
Yeah…no matter which OEM he winds up with he’ll be fine career wise…
Boyo
Oct 11, 2017 at 7:49 am
You’d play with a guy that spits in the cup?
Richard Tickle
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:21 am
i bet he go pxg they make best clubsin all of golf. BOOMBABBY!
PAUL
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:46 am
YOURE ALL WRONG! i HAVE HEARD fROM rEPUTABLE SOURCE HES GOING TO wILSON sTAFF!
Mike
Oct 27, 2017 at 1:40 pm
Paul that wouldn’t surprise me one bit, Wilson make good irons, but he might just try Srixon ??? progressive iron makers
ILoveHateGolf
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:21 pm
I’ll bet he doesn’t. Regardless, at least a little effort on the grammar would be appreciated, Richard. Jesus….
Richard Trickle
Oct 9, 2017 at 12:47 pm
lEAVE jESUS OUT OF THIS. yOU BEET hE doeSNT GO pXG hUH? rEAL SMART GUYYV YOU arE!
cgasucks
Oct 10, 2017 at 10:47 am
Fentanyl is a very bad drug..please get help. Besides Wilson can’t afford Garcia…PXG…possibly..
cgasucks
Oct 9, 2017 at 11:14 am
If Garcia switched when his TM contract expired it makes a lot of sense and no one will bat an eye. But in this case Garcia got out in mid-contract which will leave a lot of questions on the table…just like Mickelson when he left Titleist for Callaway in mid-contract.