Kisner contending for FedExCup while awaiting second child

It used to be easier to identify the brand of irons that a PGA TOUR player uses. These days, it’s becoming more difficult. In the current golf equipment landscape, ultra-personalized custom irons are growing in popularity among PGA TOUR players, whereas they historically would use irons that were available to the public on the retail market. The tide is shifting. In 2022 alone, Adam Scott debuted custom Miura Golf-made irons with his logo on them, and Maverick McNealy used a custom set of Callaway Apex prototype irons – a set that included an “11-iron” – throughout the year. Justin Thomas also has been using a “1-of-1” custom set of Titleist irons that meet his specs. There may be another big name added to that list soon. In a Halloween-day post on Instagram, former FedExCup champion Justin Rose revealed an equally mysterious set of irons, showcasing no other logos aside from his personal “JR” logo. The golf world was abuzz trying to figure out which equipment manufacturer designed and built the set. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait long to find the answer. Rose revealed shortly after, in a comment on the GolfWRX Instagram page, that Custom Golf Works at Gatwick Studio custom-built the irons. He later confirmed via Instagram DM with GolfWRX that the iron heads themselves were manufactured by Miura, much like Scott’s custom irons. While Rose is not entirely positive if and when the custom “JR” irons will go into play, he’s giving them serious consideration. Most players do the bulk of their equipment testing in tandem with a company’s reps – often at tournaments, a company’s home office or the player’s home course – but Rose has used Custom Golf Works, an independent, off-site clubfitting facility, multiple times this year. They also helped fit him for the Titleist 620MB irons he was using earlier this year. The fitter boasts a decade of fitting players on the DP World Tour but also is open to the public. It isn’t affiliated with a single equipment brand. When Rose switched to Titleist clubs earlier in the year, it was simply because the irons won out over other brands he was testing. For Rose, changing irons wouldn’t be anything new; since becoming an equipment free agent in 2020, Rose has used multiple sets of irons in PGA TOUR competition, including TaylorMade P-730 irons, Mizuno MP-20 irons, TaylorMade P-7MC irons, and Titleist 620 MB irons. This time around, it seems Rose’s new custom “JR” irons are made especially for his look and preferences, so maybe his iron search has reached a finish line.

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Quick 9: Why Mickelson’s Cup influence will be more important off course

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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia — Until three weeks ago, Sam Saunders said the putter was probably in his attic with all the others he has accumulated. But Saunders wanted a change, and the old reliable he’s using this week at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier is special. The Odyssey two-ball putter belonged to his grandfather, Arnold Palmer.  So far the putter, one of Odyssey’s original two-ball models, is serving Saunders extremely well at the Old White TPC. He’s made 15 birdies with it and sits two strokes off the lead heading into Sunday’s final round. It’s not the first time Saunders — who shot 67 on Saturday — has used the putter in competition. It was in his bag from his junior year in high school through some of his college years at Clemson. He also used it early in his pro career. But as if often the case with golfers, the flat stick eventually fell out of favor. It’s only been in the last month that Saunders started playing with it again. “When I first turned pro and got my first few starts on the PGA TOUR in 2010, I used that putter and putted really well with it that year, actually,� he said. “As every young guy out here does, you see all these beautiful putters out here on the green and you have one bad week  and you start trying everything else. I’m sure I’ll change again. “But it’s a great putter and he did tell me it’s one he wanted me to use so hopefully it’s got some good luck in it.� Saunders said he doesn’t have quite the stockpile of clubs that Palmer had. But he tends to keep putters, and this is one of two that belonged to his grandfather that Saunders has used in competition. “I always tend to go back to the few that I’ve had good success with,� said Saunders, who remembers winning junior tournaments with the Odyssey. “It’s something I’ve used for a while and always had a good feel for it.� Saunders thinks the last time Palmer played with that putter was at Augusta National in 2004, though. It was his final Masters, and Saunders caddied for him. “I’m pretty sure that was the one that he was using,� Saunders said. “He loved that two-ball putter, and I think this was the one he used in the latter part of his career.� Now Saunders is giving it new life. And the putter just may propel Palmer’s grandson to his first PGA TOUR win on Sunday.

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