Equipment
Spotted: Viktor Hovland’s prototype Ping Oslo putter
We spotted Viktor Hovland testing out a new Ping putter ahead of the 2025 Genesis Open. The new putter is a Ping PLD Oslo mallet, but it has a few unique differences from the ones we find at our local golf shop. Hovland’s prototype is center-shafted, but the shaft enters the head behind the face. Usually putters with this setup are zero torque or have a “toe up” balance to them, meaning when you rest the putter shaft on a table or in your hands the face will point towards the target.
The other interesting thing on Viktor’s new Oslo is that it has a face insert that looks to be made of a different metal than the rest of the head. Carbon steel is used for the body and I would guess that the insert is stainless steel, featuring small horizontal lines milled into it. I don’t know if the milling lines are deep enough to influence the forward roll on the ball at impact but it could create a specific sound and feel that Viktor is looking for.
We did catch up with Ping tour rep Dylan Goodwin and he gave us a little insight on the new putter.
“It was last week, on Friday he reached out wanting to test some different options,” Goodwin said. “So we kind of sent him a goodie bag of a number of different options. Different face options, inserts, deeper milling, shallower milling, smooth, different models that he hasn’t seen before. Some that play off his current gamer.”
“We’ve seen some popular models out here that have that onset, that really have that face in front of the shaft, and it kind of frees up the ball. Guys like the visual of that. Center shafts have been popular lately. We did our take on it. It has a little bit of toe hang that matches kind of what Viktor does naturally. So the start line has been really, really good, but mainly he just really likes it at address – it sits so square.”
The putter is finished off with Viktor’s usual red Winn 15″ counterbalanced grip that he has used with the DS-72 putter. Now we will all be waiting to see how he putts with the new putter at the Genesis Open this week!
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2025 Genesis Open
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)
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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...
