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Details on Akshay Bhatia’s utility wood addition at the Masters

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Twenty-four-year-old lefty Akshay Bhatia added an extra utility wood to his setup to help him make his score on the second nine at Augusta. Replacing his 4-iron X Forged UT, Bhatia opted for a second Apex UW to go along with the already-in-the-bag prototype.

“Basically looking at incoming second shots to 13 and 15, needing something hitting a higher apex to land softer on those greens,” Johnny Thompson, Callaway Tour Content Manager, told GolfWRX.

There’s an added importance of building a score around the par 5s at Augusta. All four par-5 holes have played under par in the last three years. The only other hole to do so is the par-4 third. Taking a look at the last five Green Jacket winners, it’s easy to see that they made the most of the scoring opportunities.

Year Players Par-5 Score Total Score
2025 Rory McIlroy 7 under 11 under
2024 Scottie Scheffler 9 under 11 under
2023 Jon Rahm  10 under 12 under
2022 Scottie Scheffler 8 under 10 under
2021 Hideki Matsuyama 11 under 10 under

The new ‘26 UW for Bhatia features a 21-degree head lofted at 20 degrees. Because the Callaway’s UW features a larger-profile head than a standard hybrid, the tour team equipped it with a Fujikura Ventus Black 10X wood shaft, tipped at 2 inches. At 39-? inches in total length, with a D1.8 swing weight, it launches higher than the X Forged UT 4-iron yet carries a similar distance.

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Equipment

Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping

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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.

Check out Shipley’s full what’s in the bag and the rest of his wedge stampings here on “Inside the Ropes” from Colonial.

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Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover

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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, @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

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Whats in the Bag

Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)

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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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