News

Phil Mickelson at The Open: No driver, driving iron, new putter?

Published

9 years ago

Jul 18, 2017

“My math is different from anyone else,” Phil Mickelson told reporters ahead of the British Open at Royal Birkdale.

It seems, much like his math was different in 2013 when he unleashed the Phrankenwood, Mickelson’s Open calculations have again returned a different result.

Lefty looks to be scrapping the driver in favor of a Callaway Epic 3-iron bent to 16 degrees, per a Golf Channel report. He will also carry a 3-wood this week; it’s a 13.5-degree Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero with a Mitsubishi Fubuki K 70X shaft.

Mickelson has carried an Apex UT 3-iron this year, which he’ll reportedly keep in the bag in addition to the driving iron.

Interestingly, we also spotted Mickelson testing an insert-less putter, deviating from his Odyssey Versa #9 White with a Microhinge Insert.

While he looked to be going back and forth between the milled-faced putter on the putting green, it looks like he continued testing the non-insert putter during his practice round, judging from on-course images like the featured image on the story.

Stories of Mickelson’s equipment tinkering are legendary on the PGA Tour. But if this switch up works the same way as his last major pre-Open shakeup, he’ll be holding the Claret Jug.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

28 Comments

Nigel Kent

Jul 24, 2017 at 2:28 am

Now we know he missed the cut without a driver, maybe it’s time he admitted he needs lessons . Can’t keep it on the fairway with any driver Callaway can make him ‘ must be the club, right ?

Reply Report comment
Mike Hunt

Jul 20, 2017 at 10:29 am

Let’s tell the real story- Phil had to pawn his driver so he could front the millions he has bet on him self, so when he wins the Open he can swim in money.

Reply Report comment
Matt

Jul 20, 2017 at 4:12 am

Go lefty. Easy to drive it OB judging by the wet windy first round so far. Won’t be surprised if a lot of drivers are banished this week and everyone is at the practice tee perfecting worm burners.

Reply Report comment
Dave

Jul 19, 2017 at 9:08 pm

Wonder what it is about having a keyboard in front of them that makes some guys feel the need to try to act like a tough guy when in reality they probably live in their parents basement and still get tucked in by their mommies.

Reply Report comment
Lloyd

Jul 19, 2017 at 6:23 pm

I feel your pain. Ignorance hurts.

Reply Report comment
Dave R

Jul 19, 2017 at 3:54 pm

More of the same old same old re Phil. leave his family out of this please. It’s his decision to do what he feels is right. And when it comes to his family that’s his business .

Reply Report comment
Roger in NZ

Jul 19, 2017 at 2:29 pm

Go Phil !! Wish you the Best in a Winning Result.

Reply Report comment
Jack

Jul 19, 2017 at 1:01 pm

Please don’t post anymore.

Reply Report comment
Dave

Jul 19, 2017 at 11:55 am

Maybe that is why he still has a family!!

Reply Report comment
Ryan

Jul 19, 2017 at 11:14 am

He has used that putter on and off since 2011. It’s an odyssey 9 black series with a different face mill than retail. For some reason, come July he tends to test that putter at the Scottish and The Open. Nearly won in 2011 using it at St George’s.

Reply Report comment
ND Hickman

Jul 19, 2017 at 10:20 am

Maybe he’s putting the XHot 3Deep back in his bag.

Reply Report comment
Gordy

Jul 19, 2017 at 9:58 am

After reading every comment, you guys are awfully cynical towards this article. You do realize that this is a golf website and in reality nothing it reports is very important and this is what this site reports correct?? The driving iron is way overrated but I will tell you I own a Callaway XHOT Deep 13.5 and it does keep the ball lower with less spin which makes it run out. With roll, I hit is as far as my driver. However, it is a draw bias an has a mean hook when it is swung improperly.

Reply Report comment
- John the Merlin
  
  Jul 19, 2017 at 5:07 pm
  
  Not important? What??? NOOOO!!!!!!!
  
  Reply Report comment
Teaj

Jul 19, 2017 at 9:56 am

I am just throwing it out there but could he be trying a milled face putter due to the speed of the greens being slower?

Reply Report comment
JOEL GOODMAN

Jul 19, 2017 at 9:24 am

IT AINT THE ARROW -IT’S THE INDIAN…SOMEBODY TELL PHIL………………………..

Reply Report comment
Aaron

Jul 19, 2017 at 9:02 am

Phil said he has the same phrankenwood in the bag this week as he had in 2013, not the Epic Sub zero

Reply Report comment
I bogey alot

Jul 19, 2017 at 8:18 am

ya darn his family right? The people that mean more to him and love him no matter what , he should just part ways with them like he did bones huh!

Reply Report comment
John Grossi

Jul 19, 2017 at 7:57 am

Who’s his caddie?

Reply Report comment
- Travis
  
  Jul 19, 2017 at 9:25 am
  
  His brother
  
  Reply Report comment
Jacked_Loft

Jul 19, 2017 at 7:51 am

As he’s been missing so many fairways recently with the driver, this may work out good for him.

Reply Report comment
chris

Jul 19, 2017 at 6:01 am

Don’t think this is his first rodeo, pretty sure he knows (Cog)

Reply Report comment
SLDR stinger

Jul 19, 2017 at 1:55 am

I mash it real good with the lowest spinning driver set up

Reply Report comment
BJB

Jul 18, 2017 at 10:31 pm

what arthritis meds and statins is he bringing with him?

Reply Report comment
- sam
  
  Jul 19, 2017 at 1:48 am
  
  That is really weak. What a pathetic life you must live …
  
  Reply Report comment
- John Krug
  
  Jul 19, 2017 at 7:51 am
  
  Pathetic comment.
  
  Reply Report comment
3 metal stinger

Jul 18, 2017 at 6:39 pm

I am now dumber after reading this

Reply Report comment
- John Krug
  
  Jul 19, 2017 at 8:01 am
  
  Most?
  
  Reply Report comment
- Matt
  
  Jul 20, 2017 at 4:24 am
  
  Good thinking. Might have to bag the old Hogan 1i and persimmon for a practice alongside the Epic and see if it helps my crap swing.
  
  Reply Report comment

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News

Testing Lorem Ipsum

Published

2 hours ago

May 13, 2026

Pro Shop

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News

2026 PGA Championship betting odds

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

Scottie Scheffler leads the betting ahead of the second major championship of the year, with the World Number One a +345 favorite to get his hands on a second PGA Championship.

Rory McIlroy who won the Masters back in April is a +800 shot to complete half of the calendar slam at Aronimink Golf Club this week, while Jordan Spieth can be backed at +5900 to become a career grand slam winner.

Here is the full betting board for the 2026 PGA Championship courtesy of DraftKings.

Scottie Scheffler +345 – (Check 0ut his WITB here)

Rory McIlroy +800 – (Check out his WITB here)

Jon Rahm +1300
Cameron Young +1500
Bryson DeChambeau +1700
Xander Schauffele +1850
Matt Fitzpatrick +1950
Ludvig Aberg +2000
Tommy Fleetwood +2600
Collin Morikawa +3500
Brooks Koepka +3900
Justin Rose +4300
Russell Henley +4600
Si Woo Kim +4700
Justin Thomas +4800
Robert MacIntyre +5300
Patrick Cantlay +5300
Viktor Hovland +5400
Tyrrell Hatton +5500
Jordan Spieth +5900
Sam Burns +6000
Hideki Matsuyama +6200
Adam Scott +6400
Rickie Fowler +7000
Chris Gotterup +7400
Patrick Reed +7400
Min Woo Lee +7800
Ben Griffin +8000
Sepp Straka +8400
Shane Lowry +9000
Akshay Bhatia +9200
Maverick McNealy +9200
Joaquin Niemann +9200
Jake Knapp +9200
Jason Day +9600
Kurt Kitayama +10000
J.J. Spaun +10000
Harris English +10500
Nicolai Hojgaard +11000
Gary Woodland +11000
David Puig +11000
Michael Thorbjornsen +12000
Jacob Bridgeman +12000
Keegan Bradley +12500
Corey Conners +14000
Alex Fitzpatrick +15000
Sungjae Im +15500
Sahith Theegala +15500
Harry Hall +15500
Alex Noren +16000
Thomas Detry +16500
Marco Penge +16500
Kristoffer Reitan +17000
Alex Smalley +17000
Wyndham Clark +17500
Sam Stevens +17500
Keith Mitchell +17500
Daniel Berger +18500
Ryan Gerard +20000
Nick Taylor +20000
Rasmus Hojgaard +21000
Dustin Johnson +21000
Pierceson Coody +23000
Aaron Rai +24000
Jordan Smith +24000
Angel Ayora +24000
Bud Cauley +25000
Matt McCarty +26000
Jayden Schaper +26000
Brian Harman +27000
Taylor Pendrith +27000
Ryan Fox +27000
J.T. Poston +27000
Cameron Smith +29000
Ryo Hisatsune +29000
Michael Kim +29000
Max Homa +29000
Denny McCarthy +29000
Tom McKibbin +30000
Rico Hoey +32000
Matt Wallace +32500
Ricky Castillo +33000
Haotong Li +33000
Michael Brennan +34000
Max Greyserman +36000
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Christiaan Bezuidenhout +37500
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +39000
Aldrich Potgieter +40000
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Patrick Rodgers +42500
Daniel Hillier +42500
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Garrick Higgo +52500
John Keefer+55000
Matthias Schmid +57500
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Andrew Putnam +60000
Lucas Glover +62500
Daniel Brown +62500
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Adrien Saddier +100000
Bernd Wiesberger +100000
Elvis Smylie +110000
Stewart Cink +130000
Kota Kaneko +130000
David Lipsky +150000
Chandler Blanchet +150000
Andy Sullivan +150000
Joe Highsmith +180000
Adam Schenk +200000
Travis Smyth +200000
Davis Riley +225000
Martin Kaymer +400000
Brian Campbell +400000
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Kazuki Higa +450000
Jordan Gumberg +450000
Ryan Vermeer +500000
Austin Hurt +500000
Tyler Collet +500000
Timothy Wiseman +500000
Shaun Micheel +500000
Y.E. Yang +500000
Michael Block+500000
Mark Geddes+500000
Luke Donald+500000
Bryce Fisher+500000
Jimmy Walker +500000
Jason Dufner +500000
Jesse Droemer +500000
Jared Jones +500000
Garrett Sapp +500000
Francisco Bide +500000
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Paul McClure+500000
Derek Berg +500000
Chris Gabriele +500000
Braden Shattuck +500000
Ben Polland +500000
Ben Kern +50000

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.