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11 Revealing Photos from the FedEx St. Jude Classic and U.S. Open Sectionals

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GolfWRX was live this week from the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee; also on Monday was the U.S. Open Sectional qualifier for the Memphis area, held at both Germantown and Ridgeway Country Club.

If you missed any of the photo galleries, make sure to browse the links below:

Hats off to the USGA and PGA Tour getting on the same page, and having a sectional qualifier just down the road from the PGA Tour event that week. That’s the kind of forward thinking that keeps professional golfers sane. Many of the players were participants in both fields, and here’s how some of the notable names finished up.

DNQ: Lee McCoy, Wesley Bryan, Andres Romero, Ryan Palmer, Scott Stallings, Robert Allenby, Ben Crane and Steve Stricker (who’s playing more this week than he has seemingly all year).

Alternates: Thomas Aiken, Robert Garrigus (Nos. 1 and 2, respectively).

Qualified

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The only player to qualify who isn’t in the FedEx St. Jude field is amateur Sam Burns, a current member of the LSU Tigers Men’s Golf Team.

For FedEx St. Jude Classic participants, I wonder whether qualifying for the U.S. Open, or not qualifying, is more of a distraction during the week? Surely, having to book a tee time at Oakmont for a U.S. Open practice round is a good problem to have, but you never know what will distract the mind of a golfer.

But anyway, let’s reveal some photos in this week’s, Revealing Photos: U.S. Open Dreams.

Wedge stampings

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I think wedge makers have conspired against me since I declared wedge stampings dead. Between Cam Smith’s Kendrick Lamar stampings, and Wesley Bryan’s Breaking Bad and American Sniper stampings, these wedges are some of the coolest I’ve seen on Tour.

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“Gimmie the HeisenWedge.”

See all of the stampings from Smith, and Bryan, who’s making his PGA Tour debut this week, in the gallery below.

In case you’re wondering, and based on Smith’s Twitter, I’m guessing he named his dog Kendrick, thus “Kendrick the Sausage.”

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How to make new clubs look old 

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Slab a pound of lead tape on your irons and let your wedges rust. Just a reminder, these are Titleist 716 T-MB and 716 AP2 irons released in 2016, as well as Vokey SM5 wedges that were released in 2014… although they look as though they’ve been sitting in a used club bin for a decade.

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Magnification

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This is just about the thickest top line I’ve ever seen on a putter. It’s like when your parents start needing reading glasses, and adjust the text on their phone to the biggest font. With this putter, there’s no excuse not to be aligned at your intended target.

And speaking of font-size adjustments, the staff bag pictured below needs some. I can hardly even read Loren’s name.

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I don’t know much about Robby Shelton…

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But I have a feeling he’s not a big fan of the Auburn Tigers.

HZRDUS Slime

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The green, slime-colored outline on the new Project X Handcrafted HZRDUS T1100 shaft is like caution tape; high-speed swingers only. It’s rumored to be extremely low-spinning.

Weapons that work

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Every week we see the Tour guys with the newest, greatest gear in the bag since they’re under contracts with sponsors and whatnot. But it’s always interesting to see what accomplished players are bagging who aren’t collecting paychecks from sponsors. Here, we have Ping G15 clubs, which were released in 2011. And I’ll bet there’s a wear spot the size of a dime on the exact center of those irons.

This photo is from the U.S. Open Sectionals

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You know how I can tell? Three main reasons:

  1. Shorts: Other than U.S. Open qualifiers, when do you ever see a professional golfer wearing shorts?
  2. Morning dew on the greens: PGA Tour courses always have the workers out bright and early to cut and roll the greens, and the practice greens. But those luxuries aren’t always provided at U.S. Open qualifying courses. Welcome to the struggle of a daily golfer.
  3. No fans, ropes, TV towers or sponsor signs around the green: Isn’t it nice? Just him and the golf course, the way golf was meant to be played.

Sock game strong

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Also something you never see during Tour events is the socks of the players, eliminating the opportunity for players to make fashion statements with their socks.

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It’s unfortunate, since socks with stripes and flowers add some undeniable pop to an outfit. But the pants rule also protects any fashion faux-pas like the mid-grays pictured below.

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Maybe it’s best the pros wear pants after all.

Morning disaster

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Isn’t this just the worst? You end up leaving your fresh cup of morning coffee on the roof of your car, and don’t realize until you drive away and go to take your first sip.

The most common injuries for golfers are the wrist and back

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These still photos of Dustin Johnson’s swing explain the reason for both of those injuries.

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Good thing he’s a tremendous athlete who can withstand the bending, twisting and turning, because I’m pretty sure my back would disintegrate if put into that position.

Did you know?

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Cary Middlecoff, or should I say Dr. Cary Middlecoff, was a dentist in the Army before becoming a professional golfer. He finished his career with 40 Tour wins, three major victories, and just over $250,000 in career earnings. Here’s more about his life and career in a New York Times article from 1998, the year of his death.

Tournament patrons, take notes

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If you plan on attending a professional golf event, and you’re not riding around on a segway like the guy on the far left in the picture above, then you’re doing it wrong.

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Brad

    Jun 13, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    Although it has moved to 2 weeks before or even a week after, the FESJC is usually the week before the US Open and the qualifier is always at Ridgeway CC or Germantown CC. The USGA having it in the same city isn’t something new.

  2. Michael

    Jun 11, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    You were right when you said wedge stampings were dead. This trend jumped the shark long ago.

  3. Nevin

    Jun 11, 2016 at 1:15 pm

    Cary Middlecoff has to one of the most under-appreciated Tour Pros of all time. 40 wins and 3 majors, yet he is hardly discussed, even when the topic is under-appreciated Tour Pros.

  4. greg Moore

    Jun 11, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    The Segway guy got kicked off once security caught up with him.

  5. Weekend Duffer

    Jun 11, 2016 at 12:41 pm

    I wait every week for this article

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Equipment

Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver

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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. 

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Equipment

Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss

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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”

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Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo

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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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