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Daniel Berger notches top-10 finish with 9-year-old TaylorMade irons

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Editor’s note: TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC irons were released in late 2011 for the 2012 season. We’re choosing the release year in dating the clubs. 

Golfers love to talk about new gear, but like with classic cars, it’s hard not to take notice when a classic piece of equipment shows up in a player’s bag—especially on the PGA Tour.

At the Waste Management Phoenix Open, former Callaway staff member and 2015 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Daniel Berger went back to a nine-year-old (in golf years that’s ancient) set of 2011 TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC irons—and recorded a top 10 at TPC Scottsdale.

From pictures on the range at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the rest of Berger’s bag consisted of a Callaway Epic Flash driver and fairway woods, Callaway Apex 3-iron, Callaway MD4 wedges, and an Odyssey putter—no word on his ball of choice at this time.

It’s not uncommon to see a player go back to a comfortable set of clubs, especially irons, but to see a player go this far back is more unusual. The only other recent example would be Steve Stricker going back to a much older set of Titleist 755’s. The big difference, from what we can tell, is Berger’s set appears to be NOS (new old stock) and a recently built set, based on their condition.

When talking to those in “the know,” the 2011 TaylorMade Tour Preferred series of irons—including the MB, MC, and CB’s—were some of the best irons ever made by the Carlsbad-based OEM (I will personally admit to owning two sets of the MC’s and an MB set).

The distinct design feature of the 2011 Tour Preferred MC CB irons was the weight screw in the back of the head that kept mass centered right behind the sweet spot of each head. This feature, something we have seen before and that continues to this day from other OEMs, allows for precise controlling of head weight without altering the CG to maximize performance.

We don’t know if these irons will be a mainstay for the rest of the season for Mr. Berger, but it is going to be something interesting to follow over the next few weeks.

 

Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. Pingback: Daniel Berger WITB 2021 (September) | GolfTechie

  2. Pingback: Daniel Berger WITB 2021 (September) – GolfWRX

  3. Pingback: Ryder Cup WITBs: U.S. team | GolfTechie

  4. Pingback: Ryder Cup WITBs: U.S. team – GolfWRX

  5. Hjjv

    Feb 15, 2021 at 8:19 pm

    I play with myself

  6. Pingback: Daniel Berger’s winning WITB: 2021 AT&T Pro-Am | GolfTechie

  7. Pingback: Daniel Berger’s winning WITB: 2021 AT&T Pro-Am – GolfWRX

  8. Steve C

    Feb 6, 2020 at 10:54 am

    I’m surprised the golf manufacturers would allow a story like this to be printed.

  9. Kingsley Barry Adams jr

    Feb 4, 2020 at 5:36 pm

    My irons are 15 years old and my putter is almost 60 years old

  10. DJ

    Feb 4, 2020 at 10:25 am

    I’m still playing Bridgestone J40 DPC’s that originally came out in 2012. I have gone through two full sets (4-PW) and a couple extra 6 irons. I have one more set of them left. I have switched shafts a few times – from the original project X flighted to the PXI, then tried AMT White, but now on the Project X LZ. Finally got the perfect shafts.

  11. Gunter Eisenberg

    Feb 4, 2020 at 8:47 am

    That goes to show you that in the hands of a skilled golfer, he/she can perform with any club regardless of its age.

  12. Dan

    Feb 4, 2020 at 6:34 am

    Adam Scott (OWGR #15) is still using Titleist 680MB irons released in 2003!

  13. Fred

    Feb 3, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    I am still playing with my clubs from 1984 and I use my dad’s putter from the 1950’s. I did replace my persimmon woods a few years ago.

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Equipment

Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report

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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. 

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Whats in the Bag

Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)

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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 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

See more in-hand photos of Bud Cauley’s clubs here.

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Equipment

Name every set of irons you’ve owned – GolfWRXers discuss

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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”

Entire Thread: “Name every set of irons you’ve owned.”

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