This week, the best LPGA golfers in the world have collected at Mission Hills Country Club in Palm Springs for the 2020 ANA Inspiration. Notable names in the major championship field include Danielle Kang, Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda, Stacy Lewis, Brooke Henderson, Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko and many more.
During the practice days prior to competition, I was able to catch up with a number of the players to talk equipment and capture some photos of their clubs. Of course, things are a bit different these days due to pandemic guidelines, so I was not allowed inside the ropes or permitted to touch any of the players equipment. While this story won’t include in-hand photos of golf clubs, it is still packed with interesting gear I spotted while at the ANA Inspiration.
Below are the top-10 gear photos I captured while at Mission Hills earlier this week.
1. Staying sanitary
As with the PGA Tour, the LPGA has cleaning stations set up for when golf clubs change hands between club builders and players on the range. Without the dedication to a clean environment for all, the ANA Inspiration wouldn’t even be possible, so a big thanks to all the staff on hand at Mission Hills.
2. Jassy’s wedge
Jasmine Suwannapura has a jazzed-up, pink-and-purple Callaway Mack Daddy 4 wedge with her nickname “Jassy” etched into the back cavity. She also has a set of Srixon Z-785 irons in the bag.
3. Lead tape
Mi Hyang Lee also has a flashy Callaway wedge, but perhaps even more interesting is the lead tape she has on her Mizuno JPX 919 Tour irons. Based on the location of the lead tape, she could either be looking to lower CG (center of gravity) and trying to raise launch, or she’s just looking for a slightly heavier feel.
4. A photo of a golf ball… kind of
The rough at Mission Hills this week is no joke. Here’s a photo of a golf ball that was swallowed up by the rough just right of the green on hole No. 9. Good luck with that shot.
5. Designer headcovers
Su Oh is making a fashion statement with her Lucky Bounce Golf headcovers, which are made with Louis Vuitton leather. The “S” cover is for her driver, and the thinner cover is for her alignment sticks; even her alignment sticks get the designer treatment.
6. A custom Scotty
Dani Holmqvist has a Scotty Cameron Tour Only Timeless Special Select putter with a custom California Golden Bears colorway and three alignment lines. It’s a good year to be a Cal Golden Bear, since that’s the college 2020 PGA Champion Collin Morikawa also attended.
7. Lexi Thompson’s unique setup
Two points of note about Thompson’s current gear:
- Unlike most of her LPGA contemporaries, Thompson doesn’t have a hybrid in the bag. She opts for a driving iron, instead.
- She’s still playing with Cobra S2 Forged irons, which were first released in 2010.
8. Limoncello time!
Anne Van Dam’s Callaway Jaws wedge has a clever Limoncello pun stamped on it and a lemon color scheme to boot. Limoncello – an after-meal Italian liqueur – is usually consumed via shot, or “nip,” and when a wedge shot is hit just right off the turf, it’s considered to be “nipped.” Molto creativo.
9. The coolest bag in golf
Gaby López celebrates her Mexican culture with this awesome staff bag, which was hand-painted in Oaxaca by @makuri_arte.
Here’s what López had to say about the bag:
“I was trying to represent Mexican culture in a very vivid way. My brother works at this company with Mexican artists in native communities, and they hand painted it.”
10. Callaway’s custom Palm Springs gear
Callaway created custom head covers and staff bags for the week as an ode to Palm Springs. The designs feature retro Palm Springs colors and patterns, a nod to Dinah Shore, and a shoutout to local highway 111. Actually, until Sunday, you can enter to win one of the staff bags for yourself.
