This is what's called the "Silly Season,'' in golf. For millionaire players, the Silly Season means bagging the big bucks in exhibition events such as the LG Skins Game held this past weekend. As disconnected as that seems in these tough economic times, there is a plus side to the Silly Season. That is, it gives players and equipment companies the opportunity to test some new equipment in competition and not just at a high-tech test facility.
At the Skins Game, for example, Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) staff players Phil Mickelson and Rocco Mediate each played with some of the clubs in Callaway's new Diablo line of metal woods and hybrids. Callaway Golf is expected to unveil the Diablo line at the PGA Merchandise Show in January in Orlando.
"Lots of new stuff: X-22s, brand new, the Diablo driver, and the Diablo hybrid,” said Mediate, runner up to Tiger Woods at the 2008 U. S. Open. “Good stuff, all good stuff. It’s all brand new. I know the 22s are out now. I don’t know if the driver is out yet.
Mediate, by the way, said he plays with the "regular version'' of the X-22 irons instead of the Tour models preferred by many Callaway staff players.
Said Mickelson: “I just put the new Diablo 3-wood in my bag. I have been trying for a lot of years to get a 3-wood to perform like this Diablo and I’m excited about that. It goes a long ways, is very straight and it’s easy to hit.''
The loft on his Diablo 3 wood, Mickelson said, is 14 degrees.
"It’s got plenty of loft. It’s not overly strong, but the spin stays down, and it seems to go,” Lefty said.
Mickelson added he plans to put Callaway's new Ft-9 driver in his bag soon.
"The left-handed version has not been sent to the USGA for approval yet, so it won’t be on the list for another week or two.''
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