Equipment
Driver changes for Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas at the 2021 Phoenix Open
Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas both shot under par on day one of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and both men did so after a change of driver for the event.
Koepka began the year with his TaylorMade M5 in the bag but was spotted on Thursday at TPC Scottsdale using a TaylorMade SIM2 driver.
Check out Koepka hitting the SIM2 in Phoenix in the video below.
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The 30-year-old did marginally lose strokes off the tee on day one, but equipped with the SIM2 his opening round of 68 is the lowest score of Koepka’s 2021 thus far.
The change of driver is probably less surprising for those who witnessed this mind-boggling shaft bend of his M5 driver when frustrated last week at Torrey Pines.
Bend it like Brooks. pic.twitter.com/L7JAL7OBo0
— Skratch (@Skratch) January 29, 2021
As for Justin Thomas, the 27-year-old began the year by putting Titleist’s new TSi3 driver straight into play, but in Phoenix on Thursday, JT was back playing his old faithful TS3 driver.
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We’ll keep an eye on the changes and if these drivers remain in the bags of BK and JT throughout the week.
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.
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
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
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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...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
geohogan
Mar 5, 2021 at 4:39 pm
It is no surprise that Brooks is causing injury to his left knee and lower back.
If we dont release the big toe, there is tremendous stress on the left knee and lower back
There has to be eversion, allowing left big toe to lift.
Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus did it best… eversion; not for style points but to save their bodies. Too bad the young guru teaching today, doesnt have a clue.
Daniel Whitehurst
Feb 8, 2021 at 4:58 pm
Anyone else shocked that that shaft didn’t snap across Brooks’ back?
ChristianR
Feb 6, 2021 at 2:55 am
JT rolled back after all that advertising it was super pleased with the new one?
Fire the marketing guys.
Jack Nash
Feb 5, 2021 at 12:07 pm
I like JT’s choice. TS3 for me too.
Andrew Ranaudo
Feb 5, 2021 at 9:01 am
DJ back in SIM in Saudi