Phil Mickelson won the 2021 Charles Schwab Cup Championship on the PGA Tour Champions this Sunday. The win marks Mickelson’s fourth win in just six starts on the tour, adding on to the 51-year-old’s historic 2021 PGA Championship victory this summer.
Mickelson has been a strong proponent of longer-length driver shafts, but after winning the PGA Championship using a 47.9-inch driver, Mickelson has switched back into a 46-inch build ahead of the USGA rule change. He’s now using a Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero driver (7.4 degrees, 46 inches) with a Fujikura Ventus Red 6TX shaft.
Also, according to Callaway’s Johnny Wunder, Mickelson switched between a Callaway Epic Speed 3-wood and a Callaway Apex UW during the Charles Schwab Cup event (more details to come). That’s certainly no surprise since Mickelson has been known to constantly tinker with his equipment in the past.
Check out the rest of Mickelson’s gear setup below that he used to win on Sunday.
Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (Fujikura Ventus Red 6TX shaft), 9 degrees with 7.4 degrees of actual loft
Mini Driver: TaylorMade “Original One” Mini (Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft), 11.5 degrees
Our take: It’s good to have options. With Callaway’s new-look Epic Max and Epic Speed, testers found two equally appealing packages: one geared for those who need a bit more forgiveness and another for the better player craving a penetrating launch. “I could put both in the bag,” said a tester. “Both were fantastic on misses, and the flatter flight of the Speed was very consistent. I could totally see myself throwing in a strong-lofted Speed and Max 5-wood to launch it high. That sounds really appealing.” Don’t be surprised if other golfers follow suit.
The details: The fairways feature Jailbreak A.I. Velocity Blades that are spread wider apart to stiffen the structure for improved face flex. The forward CG location on Epic Speed, combined with a new leading-edge design, promotes a strong ball-flight. An oversize head and shallow face make Epic Max an ideal option for a wider handicap range. Launch and spin can be altered depending on where two sole weights are positioned.
Check out 150+ club reviews from our gear experts from ClubTest 2021.
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (3 and 4 irons) and Callaway Apex MB (6-PW), with KBS Tour V 125S+ shafts
Callaway Apex MB Irons
OUR TAKE: This is the point where we offer our take on Callaway’s shiny Apex MB 21, but one tester took the words right out of our mouth: “Best turf interaction of the bunch I tested,” he stated. “Sole slices through the ground with impressive precision, and the lack of offset is going to appeal to the guy who likes to work the ball.” Enough said.
THE DETAILS: Forged from 1025 carbon steel, Apex MB is built for superior ball strikers who crave the look and feel of a classic blade. There’s little in the way of mishit protection with this compact head, but the muscle pad does include a removable weight that allows swing weight changes to be made without altering the center of gravity location. It’s a feature the better player will surely appreciate.
Check out 150+ reviews from our gear experts in the ClubTest 2021 collection.
Wedges: Callaway PM Grind prototype (52, 55 and 60 degrees; KBS Tour V 125 S+ shafts)
Putter: Odyssey White Hot XG PM Blade
Golf Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X Triple Track
Want to overhaul your bag for 2021? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below!
