Unless you are from Northern Ireland and knew the kid who shot 61 back in 2005 to break the course record at Royal Portrush, the last time you saw Rory McIlroy playing 18 holes carrying his own bag was never. But that’s exactly what the world’s No. 1 golfer is going to do Sunday afternoon at Seminole Golf Club in Florida.
McIlroy’s partner, 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson, also will carry his own bag, as will their opponents, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff, during the TaylorMade Driving Relief charity match.
McIlroy, Johnson and Wolff are full staff players, which means they not only swing TaylorMade clubs, they use other gear made by the company such as golf balls and bags. At Seminole, the large staff bag their caddies typically haul will be replaced by TaylorMade FlexTech Lite stand bags in the same blue color scheme used on the company’s SIM woods and irons.
The FlexTech Stand bag ($199.99) weighs only 4.1 pounds and is divided into four sections to keep clubs separated. It has eight pockets, including a water-resistant valuables pocket to keep keys and a wallet dry. There is also a pocket for a water bottle and another for a laser rangefinder. The shoulder straps are self-adjusting and feature lots of padding.
There is also a proprietary system in the base that springs the legs forward when the bag is set down, helping ensure the bag stays upright for easy access to clubs and gear.
While Fowler uses a TaylorMade TP5 Pix ball and a Scotty Cameron putter, 13 of his 14 clubs are made by Cobra, and he will use a Cobra bag at Seminole. The company sent him two models last week from which to choose.
The Ultralite Sunday bag ($129) tips the scales at just 3.8 pounds and has three large openings at the top to help divide clubs. It has an oversized apparel pocket, fleece-lined valuables pocket and a mesh pocket designed to hold a water bottle.
The Ultralite Stand bag ($189) weighs 4.5 pounds but has eight pockets along with extra padding on one side to help make the bag feel more comfortable on your back as you walk.
According to Cobra, Fowler’s choice in bags may be a game-time decision.
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