Which players are using new gear at the US Open?
By James Savage
Despite being arguably the toughest major of the year, we are still seeing quite a few players putting new gear in the bag.
There may be an element of sponsor pressure but no player would take the risk of using new equipment if they weren’t 100 percent certain it was going to do a job.
This is the USA’s national championship and the global audience is massive so it’s a great time for manufacturers to show off new kit.
Let’s take a look at which players have new toys to play with this week
New gear at the US Open: Sergio Garcia switches to Odyssey Rossie
Spain have appointed a new manager the day before a world cup so a new putter doesn’t seem like a huge deal.
Since his switch from TaylorMade to Callaway we have seen Garcia using a couple of Toulon design models.
But he’s now plumped for one of the brand new Odyssey EXO models which feature red, white and black alignment features.
He’s gone for the classic Rossie headshape.
EXO-licious — @TheSergioGarcia has a new flatstick this week at Shinnecock, an EXO Rossie S. #USOpen
Explore EXO Rossie S >> https://t.co/dd0hE9Mmwm pic.twitter.com/i8qzFYFOsi
— Odyssey Golf (@odysseygolf) June 12, 2018
The EXO range has an all-new face insert is a mixture of their White Hot and Microhinge technologies. It should offer a slightly firmer feel than the regular O-works models .
We all know what can happen if Garcia can find some form on the greens…
More information can be found on the Odyssey website.
New gear at the US Open: Tiger Woods 3-iron
It’s a fairly subtle change but maybe tells you a little bit about Tiger’s strategy this week.
He’s switched out his TaylorMade M3 5-wood and added a TaylorMade TW Phase.1 3-iron to his bag.
(Pic: twitter.com/jonathanrwall)
Click here for Tiger’s full WITB details.
New gear at the US Open: Ping irons?
Tiger isn’t the only one looking at a new 3-iron this week.
Ping staffer Tony Finau has been spotted testing out this new model out at Shinnecock Hills.
(Pic: golfwrx.com)
We have a fairly good idea what this iron is and what it’s going to be called but have been sworn to secrecy.
SPOTTED: Tony Finau and Tyrrell Hatton are testing a new @PingTour 3-iron at the @usopengolf. ? https://t.co/eHqNStzHWv pic.twitter.com/0i5zcYRwrH
— Jonathan Wall (@jonathanrwall) June 11, 2018
What we can say is that is looks amazing and we simply can’t wait to give it a hit. If it is what we think it is.
They do look a bit like the G700 which we reviewed earlier this year.
New gear at the US Open: Ping wedges?
Sticking with Ping, we don’t think this looks like a Glide 2.0 wedge Bubba Watson is using.
It looks a lot cleaner and more of a players bladed wedge.
UPDATE: Since writing this, fellow Ping staffer Tyrrell Hatton has named the new wedges as the Glide Forged and has also revealed some more new irons.
Really excited to use the new @PingTour @PINGTourEurope i210 irons and Glide forged wedges this week @usopengolf
Loving the higher flight and softer feel! #PlayYourBest pic.twitter.com/0f28xEWa2B— Tyrrell Hatton (@TyrrellHatton) June 13, 2018
We look forward to testing and reporting back on the i210 in the coming weeks.
New gear at the US Open: Titleist TS drivers
Both look set to put the model into play at Shinnecock Hills.
But which other Titleist players have been giving the new TS drivers a whack?
Never mind Beef’s driver though, just check out this towel…
Golfer @BeefGolf, who is sponsored by Arby’s, sporting a bacon beef & cheddar towel at this week’s U.S. Open ?? pic.twitter.com/DhiRK0aNY6
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 13, 2018
Sorry, where were we? Oh yes Rafa Cabrera Bello who has been very reluctant to switch from his five-year-old 913 driver has been taking a look.
Bill Hass is all in.
Adam Scott is loving it.
— James Savage (@JamesSavageNCG) June 13, 2018
But don’t expect anything drastic from Jordan Spieth. He’s still using the 915 which was launched in 2014…
Stay tuned to the NCG US Open microsite and follow me on Twitter for updates throughout the week.
New Titleist TS drivers spotted ahead of the US Open
James Savage
Former equipment editor of NCG. Inconsistent ball-striker and tea-maker.
