Leigh MacKay: 2025 PGA Show Diary (Part II)

In Part 2 intrepid golf writer Leigh MacKay reports on Titleist at the 72nd annual PGA Merchandise Show January 21-24 where 33,000 golf industry professionals from 94 countries and 50 U.S. states came together to meet with more than 1,100 participating brands.

Titleist Takes the Stage and Then Sets the Stage for 2025

PGA of America President Don Rea, Jr. and his CEO Derrick Sprague joined ESPN’s Michael Collins at 8:15 on Wednesday morning January 22 for the opening ceremony of the 72nd PGA Merchandise Show. Shortly thereafter, the large gathering of PGA of America club professionals moved into the nearby Linda W. Chapin Theater for a special opening sequel by Titleist. On stage were Titleist aficionado Jim Nantz, CBS Sports, with Tony Pancake, 2024 PGA Golf Professional of the Year and Director of Golf at Crooked Stick GC in Carmel, IN, and Brendan Walsh, the longtime PGA of America Director of Golf at The Country Club in Brookline, MA.

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Titleist welcomed all PGA of America club professionals to a special PGA Merchandise Show opening event with MC Jim Nantz (c) chatting with PGA of America notables Tony Cupcake (l), Crooked Stick GC, and Brendan Walsh (r), The Country Club.

This annual staple is a tribute from Titleist to honor the club pros who have been so instrumental in the success of the company. Before the program began, the large video screen on stage displayed the names and faces of the 2024 PGA Section award winners. Jim Nantz, who would be working the weekend at The Farmers Insurance Open and then the Chiefs-Bills AFC Championship, was the MC. With his usual aplomb, he praised both the more than 30,000 PGA of America club pros and Titleist for their contributions to the game of golf. His questions to both Tony Pancake and Brendan Walsh allowed them to share the reasons for their success as PGA of America members, and both men stated that Titleist was a contributing factor. The program also included information about what was new for 2025.

And “what’s new” was my cue to visit the Titleist the next day for a series of interviews that Joe Gomes, Director of Communications, and his assistant Malcolm Herbert had set up for me.

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Peter Uihlein (l) finished 3rd behind winner Cam Smith (c), both on the Titleist staff, and Dustin Johnson (r) at the LIV Golf Invitational Chicago, September 28, 2022. Peter has played in 35 LIV events earning $26,724,676.

I have known Joe Gomes for 15 years, and we have worked together not only at the PGA Merchandise Show but also on interviews I have had with Titleist staff members. Joe even tried to get me an interview with media-shy Wally Uihlein, CEO of Acushnet for 20 years, but to no avail. We both shared a laugh when I interviewed Wally’s son Peter, one of New England’s most accomplished golfers, at the LIV event at Trump Doral last April and did ask him about his dad. You can access that interview: https://newengland.golf/exclusive-peter-uihlein-one-of-new-englands-most-proficient-golfers/

The Pro V Hits the Big 25 and Is Born Again

The Pro V celebrates its 25th birthday as a “new” ball. Both the V1 and V1x have been re-engineered to deliver more speed off the tee, more control with the irons, and more spin with the wedges. The 2025 models were unveiled at the PGA Show and feature a “faster high gradient core,” reformulated to maintain low long game spin, increase ball speed, and add spin on shots into and around the greens. Without getting too technical, the Pro V1 has a spherically tiled 388 tetrahedral dimple design, which optimizes distance and delivers a penetrating and consistent flight; the Pro V1x has a spherically tiled 348 tetrahedral dimple design, which is optimized for high flight with even more consistency. Both balls have a speed amplifying high-flex casing layer, which contributes to low long game spin, and the soft cast Urethane Elastomer Cover provides excellent greenside spin. (So much for not getting too technical.)

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The Pro V is the No. 1 ball in tournament golf and with amateurs, but the other Titleist offerings also have a devoted following. One ball does not fit all.

I was told in no uncertain terms that swing speed is not a factor in determining which Pro V you should choose. So, straight from the Titleist expert, here is the difference between the two balls: Pro V1 offers the greatest combination of speed, spin and feel in the game, with mid-flight trajectory, low long game spin, maximum short game spin and soft feel. Compared to Pro V1, the Pro V1x will fly higher, spin more on full swing shots and have a firmer feel. There you have it. (MAP is $54.99.)

Cameron and Vokey Add to Their Lines

Scotty Cameron adds five new configurations to the popular Phantom mallet putter lineup, introducing the tour-inspired Phantom 5.2 and Phantom 7.2 models to the mallet family, as well as offering the Phantom 5, Phantom 11 and Phantom 11 Long Design models in left-handed setups for the first time.

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Scotty Cameron has added five new configurations to his popular Phantom mallet line, including left-handed setups for the first time.

The all-new Scotty Cameron Phantom 5.2 and 7.2 putters, featuring the popular wingback Phantom 5 and Phantom 7 mallet head shapes, are crafted with an I-beam-style plumbing neck. The plumbing neck setup provides players with alternative toe flow properties and alignment benefits to the shaft and neck configurations already offered in the Phantom lineup.

All five new offerings will be available in Titleist authorized golf shops beginning February 14. (MAP: $449/$499 Long Design.)

Vokey Design releases the WedgeWorks A Grind, a low bounce lob wedge grind with a narrow, smooth sole that produces a fast feel through the turf. The A Grind features 4 degrees of bounce, and it is ideal for the player looking to smoothly slide the wedge under the ball and flight the ball higher while playing from firm turf and bunkers. WedgeWorks A Grind lob wedges are available now in 58- and 60-degree lofts and feature a Raw finish. Like many low bounce wedges, this smooth-soled, fast-feeling wedge requires precise delivery at impact. (MAP: $225.)

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Bob Vokey has been designing his inimitable wedges for Titleist for a quarter century, and his latest effort, the WedgeWorks A Grind, a low bounce lob wedge grind with 4 degrees of bounce, is available in 58- and 60-degree lofts.

Introducing the GT1, GT2 AND GT3 Hybrids

Building on the Generational Technology of the well established GT drivers and fairway woods, Titleist adds to its family of metalwoods with the introduction of the all-new GT1, GT2 and GT3 hybrids. The new lineup offers improved stability and forgiveness along with new flat-weight adjustability, giving fitters and golfers greater control over center of gravity (CG) placement to dial in ball flight and launch conditions. All three models, each uniquely designed for a different player profile, offer higher inertia setups than the prior generation along with refined shapes to improve playability.

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Adding to the flagship GT drivers and fairway woods, Titleist introduces the all-new GT1, GT2 and GT3 hybrids that offer improved stability and forgiveness for players of all handicaps.

The new GT1 hybrid is the highest-launching model in the lineup, featuring a lightweight, high-MOI configuration and new forward-aft weight settings to control launch conditions. New GT2 hybrids feature a refined, playable shape and the highest total MOI across the lineup, making them an exceptionally forgiving and consistent long-iron replacement. The new GT3 model has a more compact, iron-like profile, offering workability with increased forgiveness. Both GT2 and GT3 hybrids feature all-new heel-toe CG adjustability to optimize speed, launch and shot shape.

GT hybrids are available in golf shops worldwide beginning Friday, February 21. (MAP: $329.)

Visit the Titleist website for a much more comprehensive scrutiny of the 2025 equipment: https://www.titleist.com/

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As a caddie, greenkeeper, and Ouimet Scholar from Marshfield Country Club on Boston’s South Shore, Leigh developed his love for the game at an early age. The BA from Amherst College and MA from Dartmouth prepared him for his 36-year career in education, most of it teaching Advanced Placement English and coaching varsity golf. In 1986, a sabbatical from teaching students to writing stories for “Golf World” magazine prepared him for his second career in golf journalism. Leigh is a low-handicap golfer who has won the Golf Writers Association of America’s championship seven times. He is currently a member of Southers Marsh Golf Club in Plymouth, MA, and PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL.

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