Equipment
Tiger vs. Phil: WITB for my top 5 duels
The title says it all.
I’m sure there will be some back and forth on the top 5, but these are my picks based on the WITB and overall entertainment.
No. 5: 2007 Deutsche Bank Championship (TPC Boston)
SCORES
Phil Mickelson -16 (Winner)
Tiger Woods -14 (T2)
What Transpired: Phil fired a final round 66 to edge TW (67) by 2.
Why in the Top 5: Like one of the other match-ups, both players fired rounds in the mid-60s.
What was in the Bag
Phil Mickelson
DRIVER: Callaway FT-5 Tour 8.5 with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana White Board 73x5ct
3-WOOD: Callaway X-Hot 15 Degrees with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana White Board 73x5ct
HYBRID: Callaway FT 2H 18 Degrees with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana Blue Board 93x5ct
IRONS: Callaway X-Forged CB with Project X Rifle (Satin) 7.o
WEDGES: Callaway X Forged (52, 56, 60) with Project X Rifle (Satin) 7.o
PUTTER: Odyssey #9 PM Proto @33.5 Inches
GRIPS: Royal Grip Sand Wrap
Tiger Woods
DRIVER: Nike Sasquatch @8.5 with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana Blue Board 83x5ct
3-WOOD: Nike Sasquatch @15 with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana Blue Board 103x5ct
5-WOOD: Nike T40 Tour 5T @19 Degrees with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana Blue Board 103x5ct
IRONS: (3-PW) Nike Forged MB (Red TW Logo) with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 (Tipped 1/4 w/ Wooden Dowel Inserts)
WEDGES: (56) Nike Forged Pro Combo (60) Nike Forged SV with Dynamic Gold S400
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron GSS Newport 2 with Ping Man Grip (Blacked Out) 35 Inches
GRIPS: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Chord “Logo Down”
No. 4: 2001 Arnold Palmer Championship (Bay Hill Club & Lodge)
SCORES
Tiger Woods -15 (Winner)
Phil Mickelson -14 (T2)
What Transpired: Tiger was in a “slump” and finally, after five arduous weeks, broke through to outduel Phil.
Why in the Top 5: The two players separated themselves from the pack, and if it weren’t for some 72nd hole heroics by Tiger, a playoff (the first and maybe only Tiger/Phil version) would have ensued.
What was in the Bag
Tiger Woods
DRIVER: Titleist 975D @7.5 w/ Dynamic Gold X100 (tipped to length) @43.5 inches long
3-WOOD: Titleist 970 @15 w/ Dynamic Gold X100 (tipped to length) @42.5 inches long
IRONS: 2-P Titleist 681T (Endo Forged) with Dynamic Gold X100 (Tipped 1/4)
WEDGES: Titleist Vokey 258/08 @56, 260/06 with Dynamic Gold S400
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron GSS with PingMan “blackout” grip
GRIPS: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
GLOVE: Nike
Phil Mickelson
DRIVER: TaylorMade 360 8.5 degrees w/ Fujikura Speeder 757 X
3-WOOD: Yonex Titanium 13 degrees with Yonex Tour Graphite Proto X
IRONS: (2-PW) Titleist 990 with Royal Precision Rifle FCM 7.0
WEDGES: Titleist Vokey 252/08, 256/10, 60 “P Grind” with Royal Precision Rifle FCM 7.0
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Santa Fe Terryllium (Stainless Steel) @33.5 Inches
GRIPS: Royal Grips Sand Wrap
GLOVE: Titleist
No. 3: 2009 Tour Championship (East Lake GC)
SCORES
Phil Mickelson -9 (Winner)
Tiger Woods -6 (2nd but Won Fed Ex Cup)
What Transpired: Phil fires a final-round 65 to claim the title and bounce up from 14th to 2nd in the FedEx Cup final standings. If it weren’t for a late birdie surge by TW, Phil could have taken home the $10 million.
Why in the Top 5: It’s symbolic of the relationship. Phil won the day and the trophy but TW won the war. Bittersweet for both. If memes were a thing back then it would look like this.
What was in the Bag
Phil Mickelson
DRIVER: Callaway FT-9 Tour 8.5 with Mitsubishi Chemical Fubuki K 73x5ct
3-WOOD: Callaway Diablo 15 Degrees with Mitsubishi Fubuki K 73x5ct
HYBRIDS: Callaway PM Prototype (19,22) with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana Thump Hybrid 100X
IRONS: (4-PW) Callaway Pro MB1 with Project X Rifle (Satin) 7.o
WEDGES: Callaway X Forged MD (54, 60) with Project X Rifle (Satin) 7.o
PUTTER: Odyssey PT82 PM Proto @33.5 Inches
GRIPS: Golf Pride MCC Black/White
Tiger Woods
DRIVER: Nike Dymo 380CC Prototype @8.5 with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana White Board 83x5ct
3 WOOD: Nike Sasquatch @15 with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana Blue Board 103x5ct
5 WOOD: Nike Sasquatch @19 Degrees with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana Blue Board 103x5ct
IRONS: (3-PW) Nike Forged MB (Red TW Logo) with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 (Tipped 1/4 w/ Wooden Dowel Inserts)
WEDGES: (56) Nike Forged Pro Combo (60) Nike Forged “FastBack” with Dynamic Gold S400
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron GSS Newport 2 with Ping Man Grip (Blacked Out) 35 Inches
GRIPS: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord “Logo Down”
No. 2: 2002 US Open (Bethpage Black)
SCORES:
Tiger Woods -3 (Winner)
Phil Mickelson Even (2nd)
What Transpired: Tiger Woods put on a warrior’s performance and at times physically overpowered Bethpage Black. However, the hearts of the NY State crowd were with Phil who put up a titans effort but in no way ever threatened TW.
Why in the Top 5: It was the first major in which TW was winning but Phil had all the energy behind him. Its the first time I heard “People’s Champion” in reference to Phil and I believe the love affair with NYC and Mickelson started here.
What was in the bag
Tiger Woods
DRIVER: Nike TW Prototype 310CC @8.5 w/ True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 (tipped to length) @43.5 inches long
3-WOOD: Titleist 970 @15 w/ Dynamic Gold X100 (tipped to length) @42.5 inches long
IRONS: 2-P Titleist 681T (Endo Forged) with Dynamic Gold X100 (Tipped 1/4)
WEDGES: Titleist Vokey 258/08 @56, 260/06 with Dynamic Gold S400
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron GSS with PingMan “blackout” grip
GRIPS: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Phil Mickelson
DRIVER: Titleist 975 J-VS 8.5 with Graphite Design PM702 X
3-WOOD: TaylorMade 300 Tour 13 Degrees Graphite Design PM902 X
IRONS: 2-P Titleist 731PM with Royal Precision Rifle FCM 7.0
WEDGES: Titleist Vokey 252/08, 256/10, 60 “P Grind” with Royal Precision Rifle FCM 7.0
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Napa PM Proto 33.5 Inches
GRIPS: Royal Grip Sand Wrap
No. 1: 2005 Ford Championship (Doral Resort and Spa)
SCORES:
Tiger Woods -24 (Winner)
Phil Mickelson -23 (2nd)
What Transpired: An absolute slugfest that came all the way down to an almost chip in by Phil at the 72nd. It was a non-major, low scoring free for all.
Why in the Top 5: Some of the best golf you will watch by these two. Tiger’s Haney swing was just now starting to kick in and both players were airing it out with the driver and airtight with the irons. It was just a fun watch whether you love golf or not.
What was in the bag
Tiger Woods
DRIVER: Nike Ignite 8.5 with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana Blue Board Prototype (Matte Blue) 73X5ct
3-WOOD: Nike Ignite T60 @15 with Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana Blue Board 103x5ct
IRONS: (3-PW) Nike Forged MB (Black Swoosh on Muscle) with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 (Tipped 1/4 w/ Wooden Dowel Inserts)
WEDGES: (56) Nike Forged Pro Combo (60) Nike Forged “Fast Back” with Dynamic Gold S400
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron GSS Newport 2 with Ping Man Grip (Blacked Out) 35 Inches
GRIPS: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Chord “Logo Down”
Phil Mickelson
DRIVER: Callaway FT-3 8.5 with Graphite Design PM702 X
3-WOOD: TaylorMade V-Steel T/S 13 Degrees with Graphite Design PM702 X
IRONS: Callaway X Tour with Project X Rifle (Satin) 7.0
WEDGES: Callaway Vintage Forged (52, 56, 60) with Project X Rifle (Satin) 7.0
PUTTER: Odyssey PM Proto Blade
GRIPS: Royal Grip Sand Wrap
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”
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Stanley
May 23, 2020 at 2:36 pm
Oooooooo those Nike blades…..
Baldrick
May 23, 2020 at 7:10 pm
Mix in an editor next time.
“7.o”
“Chord”
Nack Jicklaus
May 24, 2020 at 12:51 pm
I always drooled over those in the golf shop years ago…