Callaway staff player Phil Mickelson re-wrote golf’s record books at the 2021 PGA Championship after introducing a new Callaway Epic Speed driver at the beginning of the week.
Mickelson’s new driver, with just 6° of loft and a 48-inch shaft, uses Callaway’s new A.I.-designed Jailbreak Speed Frame that not only stiffens the body in the vertical direction, but by applying Artificial Intelligence, enhances horizontal and torsional stability too, promoting an increase in ball speeds across the face.
On his way to becoming golf’s oldest ever Major Champion, Mickelson consistently averaged over 300 yards off the tee, including a huge 366-yard drive on the 16th during final day’s play, which was the longest by any player on that hole all week.
According to Callaway’s Tour team, Mickelson made the switch to Epic Speed because he was ‘hitting bombs’ with it in testing. He also liked the ball speed and consistent spin rates he had been seeing.
Epic Drivers have now earned five PGA Tour wins in 2021, and following his sixth Major victory, Mickelson said: “This was the longest golf course ever played in a Major championship and you’re only going to play well if you hit ‘bombs’ and, well, I hit bombs!”
Mickelson becomes only the fourth player in history to win Tour events in four different decades.
The 50-year-old’s Chrome Soft X golf ball, featuring Triple Track, was a crucial ingredient to his latest success, and has been his product of choice in all of his victories since 2019.
Chrome Soft’s Triple Track Technology utilises Vernier Hyper Acuity, the same visual technology used to land planes on aircraft carriers. It helps improve alignment compared to a regular side stamp aid, and Triple Track lines on the ball particularly improve accuracy.
Mickelson’s putting performance on the greens also continues to underline the dominance of Odyssey on worldwide Tours, and his victory marked the 94th Major win for the brand. Odyssey has been #1 at the last 25 consecutive Majors and continues to be the no.1 putter on every major Tour worldwide.
Neil Howie, Managing Director of Callaway EMEA, said: “Phil is a legend of the game who continues to recognise how our market-leading technologies and innovations can give him a significant edge. He has proved that age should hold no barriers to performance, and we at Callaway Golf couldn’t be prouder that our equipment has helped him re-write history, and deliver another Major.”
What’s in the Bag – Phil Mickelson
Driver: Callaway Epic Speed 6°, Fujikura Ventus Black 6TX shaft
Utility: Callaway X-Forged UT, 3 to 5-iron, KBS Tour V 125 S+ shafts
Irons: Callaway Apex MB Irons (6-PW), KBS Tour V 125 S+ shafts
Wedges: Callaway PM Grind (52°, 55°, 60°), KBS Tour V 125 S+ shafts
Putter: Odyssey Prototype PM Putter
Golf Ball: Chrome Soft X Triple Track