Equipment
9 Revealing Photos from the 2016 Dean & DeLuca Invitational
GolfWRX was live from the 2016 Dean & DeLuca Invitational at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. If you missed any of the photos from this week, make sure to browse the galleries below.
The “Who n’ Who Invitational?” you might be asking. You may recognize it better as the Crowne Plaza Invitational, which switched title sponsors this year. Or maybe you just know it as the Colonial Invitational and it doesn’t matter to you regardless.
What’s in a name, anyway. Let’s just reveal some photos.
Comin’ out hot
In its first year of sponsorship, Dean & DeLuca is already throwing its hat into the ring of creative tee markers. If you don’t know what Dean & DeLuca is, you can read more about the company here. If you’re too lazy and don’t want to click the link, it’s a chain of upscale grocery stores that started in Manhattan. I have to imagine vegans and foodies love it, but I’ll stick to Texas-style BBQ for this week.
Schwartzel switching it up?
While Schwartzel has played most of the year, and won at the 2016 Valspar Championship with a Nike Method Origin B1-01 in the bag, we spotted him testing the Nike Method Core Drone at the D&D Invtl. Most recently, he missed the cut at The Masters and finished T58 at the AT&T Byron Nelson, so maybe he’s looking to change it up.
Speaking of putter testing
John Huh is testing an entire rack of putters. Also, Huh showed us the essential tools for a proper putter test: a banana, five fresh golf balls, a handful of putters, and, of course, a fresh strip of lead tape.

A few other tinkerers on the prowl
The Flat Cat grips seem to have gained some steam on Tour, with names like Carl Pettersson and Louis Oosthuizen giving them a roll on the practice green.
Trying to get pros into new equipment for the week is a bit of a… cat-and-mouse game, if you will.
More than one way to skin a cat
There’s always discussion, especially in the GolfWRX forums, about swing philosophies and “Tour secrets.” Flip through the gallery of photos below showing different Tour players at impact and you’ll see there’s just no perfect way to swing a golf club.
Greg Owen seeking a new caddie for the week
His weekly loop was busted for possessing guns on the premises during the practice round. This photo reveals that Jason Gore was the rat who snitched.
Air ’em out, Timmy
Why is Tim Herron throwing golf balls? Well, when picking best-ball teams on the first tee, it’s common to throw four golf balls into the air; the two that land the closest together are teammates, and the two that are farthest apart are also teammates.
Of course, you don’t necessarily have to throw them as high as you can, but it’s the one time you get to actually throw something on the course without being judged. So I say, let ’em fly.
Ballin’
I don’t know much about “making it,” but I do know that casually texting on two phones is a sign that you’ve done it. I also know that Jordan Spieth can afford the double data plans. Here’s proof:
Let it rain!
Spotted: New Ping putters
The new flatsticks from Ping appear to offer old-school Ping looks, but with new face millings, sight lines and finishes… and zebra-striped weights on the toe and heel? We’ll learn more about those stripes soon enough.
When you’re done being awestruck, check out more photos of the Ping putters and join the discussion here.
Equipment
Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.

At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.

The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.

“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley

In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.

To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.

“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.

Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
Equipment
Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.

From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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alexdub
May 28, 2016 at 11:37 pm
These Ping putters are a lot of things, but “new” isn’t one of them
Rich
May 28, 2016 at 11:22 pm
Holy crap those new Ping putters look incredible. Bring it on Ping!
Joey
Jun 6, 2016 at 10:12 am
YES