Equipment
Press Release: KBS Shafts Win the 2012 Open Championship
KBS Shafts Win the 2012 Open Championship
KBS shafts mark their 1st Major Championship
BOULDER, Colo. (July 23rd, 2012) – KBS Tour shafts were used by the champion and runner-up of the 2012 Open Championship. Throughout this past week the leader board saw dramatic changes, but KBS shafts were consistently at the top. Both of these professionals trusted the smooth feel and consistent performance of the KBS Tour X flex shaft in their irons.
This winner of the Open Championship has a storied career that now includes four Major championship victories. He was one of the first professionals to switch into KBS shafts in 2008 and has consistently improved GIR in the years since. For the KBS brand this is yet another milestone surpassed. The KBS team sincerely congratulates the champion of the 2012 Open Championship.
First introduced in 2008, the KBS brand continues to surge today as the fastest-growing shaft brand on Tour. Today, over 120 professionals across the PGA, European, and Web.com Tours trust the company’s signature product line. That number includes 10 of the Top 50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings.
According to Kim Braly, Director of Tour Operations, “The Open Championship is a victory we have long looked forward to. This professional has been a fan of KBS since his first practice session with them in 2008. It took only three swings to notice the smooth feel, and then immediately switched his bag into KBS. We congratulate him for this terrific performance at one of golf’s toughest tests.”
About KBS Golf Shafts
Since introduction in 2008, KBS Golf Shafts have led the steel shaft industry with innovation and unprecedented growth. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, KBS is manufactured in partnership with FEMCO Steel Technology (FST). KBS is focused on innovating steel shaft technologies that maximize performance while making every shot more enjoyable for the golfer. Available industry-wide, visit KBS online to learn why they are the fastest growing shaft on Tour, hear from their avid community, or find a local dealer.
KBS Golf Shafts
www.KBSGolfShafts.com
Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
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, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
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
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
