Equipment
Phil Mickelson adds new irons, golf ball at Masters
We know, we know -- this is turning into the Phil Mickelson edition of GolfWRX Buzz. But we can't recall another other player making as many equipment changes in a major championship as Mickelson has this year at the Masters.
It started when we found photos of Mickelson's "Phrankenwood" on the USGA List on conforming drivers on Monday. Then Mickelson announced that he would use the super-small Phrankenwood driver this week, touting its low spin off the tee and workability (Click here to see up-close photos of the club).
Yesterday, we snapped photos of Mickelson's bag with new Callaway X Forged irons, which we assumed were long irons. It's common for muscleback iron users like Mickelson to use more forgiving cavity-back long irons like the X Forged to give them more distance, a higher launch and more spin, especially into some Augusta's tight pin placements.
But Mickelson switched to the X Forged in his short clubs, his 7, 8 and 9 iron. This doesn't make much sense on the surface, but we know that Mickelson tests his irons individually and in stages. The 7, 8 and 9 irons were likely the first irons he rigorously tested.
If that wasn't enough, Mickelson also changed to a new golf ball this week, the Callaway Hex Chrome + that Gary Woodland debuted at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It's a four-piece ball that provides slightly more spin than the Callaway Hex Tour Black golf ball that Mickelson has previously played.
While Mickelson is leading in equipment changes, he didn't fair as well on the golf course. He shot a 1-under 71 and is currently tied for 23rd, five shots behind leaders Marc Leishman and Sergio Garcia.