Stewart Cink's 2009 British Open Winning Clubs
Stewart Cink, winner of the 2009 British Open, has been using Nike's CCi Forged irons for several seasons. When I spoke to him earlier this season and asked if he was planning to switch to a newer model, Cink explained that finding time to make changes can be challenging.
"After I won in Hartford [June, 2008], I didn't want to change anything up," he said. Then, after the FedEx Cup playoffs in September, when the Nike Victory Red irons were released, Cink was busy testing new golf balls with Nike's Rock Ishii.
"I ended up using a new ball for about five months. I didn't want to use a new ball, and then change irons or my driver, because if you change everything you don't know what's happening," he said. "Or what's giving you the benefit."
Although Cink is now using Nike Victory Red wedges—he used to play the Nike SV wedges—the most significant equipment change he has made this season happened in Texas at the Crowne Plaza Colonial. As GOLF.com reported, having played a Never Compromise Sub 30
M3 belly putter for more than six seasons, Cink switched to a traditional-length Nike prototype putter. Featuring a traditional Anser-style look, and heel-toe weighting, the milled face of the putter has a series of red ribs. The ribs are designed to reduce skidding and help get the ball rolling faster.
Cink's Nike prototype has more cosmetic details than the early Nike prototype putters seen on the PGA Tour (like Paul Casey's). There is a waffle pattern on the heel and toe, similar to the pattern on the back of the Nike Victory Red Half-Cavity irons. There is a sight line on the back flange of Cink's putter, and where Casey's putter has red paint-fill, Cink's is trimmed in black. Finally, on the bottom of Cink's putter there is a reference to The Oven, Nike's club building and testing facility in Ft. Worth, Texas.
I've seen five different versions of Nike's prototype putter with similar cosmetics to Cink's. Although nothing has been officially announced by Nike Golf, with this much detailing—and now two major wins by Cink and Lucas Glover—it would be surprising not to see these putters made available fairly soon.
Here is a list of the clubs Stewart Cink used to win the 2009 British Open at Turnberry:
DRIVER: Nike SQ Sumo² Tour (9.5°) with UST ProForce AxivCore Tour Red 79 shaft
FAIRWAY WOODS: Nike SQ 2 (15°) with UST ProForce AxivCore Tour Red 79 shaft
IRONS: Nike Pro Combo OS (2, 4), CCi Forged (5-PW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts
WEDGES: Victory Red (52˚, 56˚, 60˚)
PUTTER: Nike prototype
BALL: Nike One Tour D
(Top photo: Robert Beck/SI; Putter:Jon Super/AP Photos)
Posted by: Vic | Jul 27, 2009 8:16:37 PM
I play those same CCi irons and I think they're likely the best set of irons Nike has made. I can see why Cink and Glover have not switched over.
Posted by: Bob | Jul 23, 2009 4:55:47 PM
Is it time to consider the "New Victory Red" Blades Junk Yet? Tiger (who designed them) doesnt even play them. Swing and a miss maybe? (no pun intended)
Posted by: Rick M | Jul 20, 2009 9:48:09 PM
Cameron, Nike, TM or whatever, they're all ping answer as far as I'm concerned, so it's really the putterer and not the putter.
Posted by: Connor | Jul 20, 2009 2:56:28 PM
Yeah, looks like they are pretty much copying what Taylor Made has been doing the past couple years. I would play a prototype Nike putter if they paid me too.
Posted by: M. Taylor | Jul 20, 2009 12:28:54 PM
If Cink, Glover and Casey keep winning like this, Tiger might consider switching from his long-time Scottly Cameron putter. It all depends on if he three-putts one too many times. He tends to stick with what works for him in the past, but sometimes, I just wish he would shake it up a bit, especially with the putter.
Posted by: Doug | Jul 20, 2009 11:02:27 AM
No need for Nike to release these "prototype putters"
All you need to do is buy a Ping putter.
Posted by: alex | Jul 20, 2009 9:06:04 AM
another win for the CCi Forged line, thats makes 2 out of 3 majors this year.
Posted by: johnny | Jul 19, 2009 7:52:29 PM
I'm not sure if the pattern is just cosmetic, it would make sense if it's tungsten weighting. either way, they need to release it with the face insert and back weighting.