Equipment
Enter to Win Phil Mickelson’s U.S. Open Paycheck
Phil Mickelson has finished second in the U.S. Open Championship six times without a victory, but he will have especially passionate support at Pinehurst No. 2 this year as he attempts to win the career Grand Slam.
Callaway Golf, in a promotion called “The Big Bertha Payday,” (#BerthaPayday) is allowing golfers a chance to win the same official dollar amount of Mickelson’s prize winnings at this year’s U.S. Open. Starting today (5/22) and lasting through the final round on June 15, every person living in the United States or Canada that demos a Big Bertha Driver, Big Bertha Alpha Driver, or a Big Bertha Fairway Wood at a participating location will receive a code they can use to enter the contest.
Read our review of the Big Bertha and Big Bertha Alpha drivers here.
That’s it. Just test out Callaway’s newest Big Bertha technology at a local participating golf course or range, and you could win up to $1.5 million, the estimated winnings for first place.
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“A lot of people out there have not had the chance to feel like what a putt for a million dollars feels like,” said Mickelson in a promotional video for The Big Bertha Payday. “Now, even though you’re not the one hitting it, you at home have the chance to feel that same anxiety.”
By entering, you will join Phil in the grind over four-footers, the diabolical greenside shots for which Pinehurst is infamous and the unbearable major championship pressure. The better he plays, the more money you have a chance to win.
Although he missed cuts at The Masters and The Players Championship in 2014, Mickelson’s game sets up well for the Donald Ross designed Pinehurst No. 2, which requires imagination and supreme touch around the greens. In the 1999 U.S. Open at the same venue, Mickelson finished in a tie for second place, losing to a memorably gutsy performance from the late Payne Stewart.
In the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, Mickelson finished T33, earning him $35, 759. With a vested interest, participants will be hoping for a better showing in 2014’s rendition of the championship.
For the sake of one lucky fan, let’s hope Mickelson at least makes the cut. For everyone else, the contest is a great excuse to try out Callaway’s newest drivers and fairway woods.
Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype
- Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow
We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.
Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.
Best driver of 2025: The top 5
5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%
Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.
4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%
Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.
3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%
Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”
@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.
2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%
Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”
@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.
1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%
Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”
@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.
Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote
| Driver | Vote percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Cobra DS Adapt Max K | 4.85% |
| Ping G430 Max 10K | 3.85% |
| Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond | 3.68% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 3.51% |
| Callaway Elyte | 3.18% |
| Cobra DS Adapt X | 2.34% |
| Cobra DS Adapt LS | 2.17% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 LS | 2.17% |
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Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Tom
Jun 26, 2014 at 4:38 pm
Did they ever announce a winner of this contest?
Jane Schrag
Jun 17, 2014 at 1:06 pm
Thanks for a chance of a lifetime
Jane Schrag
Jun 17, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Thanks for chance of a lifetime. God Bless!
Jane Schrag
Jun 17, 2014 at 1:04 pm
Thanks for the chance to Win with You. God Bless
Larry Oliver
Jun 11, 2014 at 4:42 pm
It is your time to complete the Majors (4) slam!! Just go out nad win the US Open!!!
David Gladden
Jun 11, 2014 at 8:02 am
Just win it Phil!
Bill Trivette
Jun 10, 2014 at 10:46 pm
I have been pulling for Phil ever since her came on tour.I hope he wins this year.
Macario Reyes
Jun 7, 2014 at 2:10 pm
go Phil!!!!
jim sigmon
May 29, 2014 at 9:14 pm
pHIL ALL THE LUCK AND MAY GOD BLESS THIS ROUND, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.. I WATCH EVERY ROUND AND TOURNAMENT YOU PLAY IN GOOD LUCK THANKS FOR BEING PHIL MICKELSON
Stephen Gorman
May 25, 2014 at 7:13 pm
We are wishing you all the good fortune you deserve Phil good luck from the Gorman family we will be rooting for you. My little 7 yr old rori beth is a lefty too and loves watching you play.
Walt
May 25, 2014 at 4:12 pm
GO GET UM !
Jane Martin
May 24, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Phil–Big Bertha–green backs to me!!!YEAH
Alan Markle
May 24, 2014 at 1:39 pm
finding where to enter the contest is very difficult.
Doh
May 25, 2014 at 2:58 am
Huh?
http://www.callawaygolf.com/more/the-big-big-bertha-payday-sweepstakes/
Too me 2 seconds
Ron Coningswood
Jun 4, 2014 at 9:08 pm
You are right Alan, it is difficult to find where to sign up!
Tom
May 23, 2014 at 9:04 am
All PGA Tour Superstores are offering up this promotion, demo the Bertha there and register.
Scooter McGavin
May 23, 2014 at 6:46 am
Hm. The debate over winning lots of money or getting to see Phil lose again… I’ll have to think about that.
JOHN HABERLE
May 23, 2014 at 12:54 am
It would be great to see lefty win,I come on 6 times a bridesmaid. It’s is time.
Jeannette Neeld
May 22, 2014 at 8:01 pm
Go Phil it’s your turn