The story behind Henrik Stenson’s clubs used to win the 2016 Open Championship
If the R&A were to draw up their dream scenario to play out at the 2016 Open Championship at Troon, it’s probably safe to say they got it. The battle during Sunday’s final round between 40-year-old Henrik Stenson and 46-year-old Phil Mickelson — a pair of “old” guys, in this day and age of professional golf — was like watching two top prize fighters in their prime duke it out until the final bell rings.
When it was all said and done, Stenson’s 8-under 63 and record-tying 20-under-par aggregate performance outraced Lefty by three strokes, whose nearly flawless 65 in his own right led to besting third place by a staggering 11 shots.
Both longtime Callaway Golf staffers, GolfTEC received a special, behind-the-scenes look at the story behind Henrik Stenson’s winning WITB, as well as Phil Mickelson’s club lineup in Scotland.
Henrik Stenson WITB – The Open Championship
Driver: XR 16 (9º) – Oban Tour Kiyoshi 60x Shaft
Fairway metal: Diablo Octane Tour (13º) – Grafalloy Blue X Shaft
Irons: Legacy Black Irons (2-PW) – Nippon Modus 120X Shafts
Wedges: MD3 Milled Wedges (52º, 58º) – Nippon Modus 120X Shafts
Putter: Odyssey White Hot XG #7H
From Callaway:
(Stenson) first put the XR 16 Driver in play back in January, and he used it to win the BMW International Open last month. When he tested it on Trackman, he found that the ball speed was much faster and the spin dispersion was much tighter for him than his previous gamer. And that has held true this week, as he has hit huge tee shots that have consistently found the fairway. His driver has a 45″ shaft and according to Callaway Tour Reps, it has a shade of fade bias in the head and is set to the Standard loft adjustability.
This is the third major win already this year for the XR 16 family of drivers. Danny Willett played an XR 16 in hisvictory at Augusta, and Lydia Ko used an XR 16 Pro to capture the ANA Inspiration on the LPGA Tour.
His Legacy Black Irons have been a mainstay in his bag. He likes forgiveness and wide soles in his irons as he likes to feel the bounce when the iron head interacts with the turf, and he gets that with these irons.
His White Hot XG #7H Putter is cut to 34 1/4″ with 3.25º of loft, and a double bend fluted shaft with full shaft offset. It’s been his gamer putter on Tour, and he used it to roll in the biggest putts of his career on Sunday.
Phil Mickelson WITB – The Open Championship
Driver: XR 16 Sub Zero (8.5º)
Fairway metal: XR 16 Pro (14º) – Fubuki K 70 Prototype
Utility Club: Apex UT 21º
Irons: X Forged 13 (4-PW) – KBS Tour V 125
Wedges: PM Grind (56º, 60º, 64º)
Putter: Odyssey Versa #9
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft
Congratulations to Stenson, Mickelson and Team Callaway for a tremendous week at the 2016 Open Championship at Troon!
