Phil Mickelson's clubs for 2009 U.S. Open
I had a chance to speak with Callaway Golf club designer Roger Cleveland in the company's massive tour truck this week. Cleveland mentioned that Phil Mickelson is using a new hybrid this week. Still in the prototype phase, the club was designed and conceived with significant input from Mickelson himself.
Mickelson has previously used a Callaway FT hybrid in some tournaments.
Cleveland would not go into detail about the club or specific technologies used in its creation, but Mickelson himself told reporters, "This is a special club I actually made, taking the back part of the hybrid out so that I can open it way up and get through that thick rough." (Click on the image for a better look at the club.)
Like all prototype clubs, there is no guarantee Phil's new hybrid will ever make it to the pro shop. Here is a complete list of the clubs he is using at Bethpage:
DRIVER: Callaway FT-9 (7.5°) Tour hosel with Mitsubishi Fubuki 73 X shaft
FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway Big Bertha Diablo (15°) with Mitsubishi Fubuki 83 X shaft
HYBRID: Callaway PM prototype (18°) with Mitsubishi Diamana Thump X shaft
IRONS: Callaway X Forged (3-4), Callaway X Proto (5-9) with Rifle Project X 7.0 shafts
WEDGES: Callaway X Tour Forged (56°, 60°, 64°) with Rifle Project X 7.0 shafts
PUTTER: Odyssey White Hot XG #9 Blade
BALL: Callaway Tour ix
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Posted by: Justin | Jun 23, 2009 1:22:23 AM
Anyone can change clubs between rounds. As long as your 18 holes is over, even if you play two rounds in one day, you're allowed to make changes. Whether it's someone making a putter change, or switching out a 2 iron for a 5 wood, or taking out the 3 iron for an extra wedge... it doesn't matter. Phil is just one of the few who takes advantage of the rule, based on how the course played, or if he sees something that requires a different club strategy. It's altering a club or changing a club in the middle of 18 holes that makes it an infraction.
Posted by: Dan Olson | Jun 23, 2009 12:19:21 AM
P.S. to earlier comments, Phil doesn't use "stock clubs" they are all designed to his requirements
Posted by: Dan Olson | Jun 23, 2009 12:14:33 AM
I love Phil, don't get me wrong, but I think it's BS that he can change putters between rounds without "club damage" it hasn't been the first and won't be the last. My question/comment then becomes...why does he get to change putters/clubs within one round while others don't?
Posted by: dan olson | Jun 23, 2009 12:08:24 AM
so why does phil get to change putters every round? It's incredibly obvious between the Odyssey and the "blade" aka the bettinardi?
Posted by: Jason | Jun 22, 2009 6:01:28 PM
Is Phil's putter a stock model? I didn't see much of a flange on it and was wondering if it was a custom made one?
Posted by: Jason | Jun 22, 2009 5:57:40 PM
Does anyone know if Phil's putter is the #9 blade with or without the flange? I caught a quick shot of it and i didn't see the flange. Is his putter a custom made one from Oddysey? OR can a flangeless model be found?
Posted by: Jesse Kidd | Jun 22, 2009 12:57:35 PM
how do you do it how can u hit the ball like you do i try to but i can't hit it over 150 yards you make it look so easy i am a big fan i hope you see this
Posted by: Devin | Jun 21, 2009 4:40:29 PM
so it's basically a niblick bottom with hybrid top, clever! I'D HIT IT!