Hall of Famer Steps Onto the Fairway
Larry Fitzgerald has traded his wide receiver jersey for a golf bag, and the equipment he brought to the 3M Open pro-am is nothing short of professional grade. The NFL Hall of Famer teed it up in the event, showcasing a setup that rivals many Tour players. This isn’t a casual weekend bag filled with hand-me-downs. According to GolfWRX, Fitzgerald arrived with a fully specified inventory featuring top-tier drivers, irons, and wedges. The move signals a serious commitment to the game from one of the most recognizable athletes in sports history. Fans and gear heads alike are now dissecting his choices to understand how a non-Tour player competes at this level.
A Deep Dive Into the WITB
The driver in the bag is a TaylorMade Qi35 set to 10.5 degrees of loft. This modern club design focuses on stability and distance, a logical choice for a former athlete with a powerful swing. According to GolfWRX, the shaft paired with this driver is an LA Golf A Series Low 70 X. This specific shaft is known for its low torque and stiff profile, which helps control the face at high speeds. Moving to the fairway, Fitzgerald carries a TaylorMade Qi35 3HL in the woods slot. The 16.5-degree loft on this 3HL model offers a higher launch than a standard 3-wood, making it easier to hit from the turf. GolfWRX reports that he pairs this head with a Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore 8X shaft, a popular choice among tour pros for its stability.
The iron setup shows a distinct split in technology and feel. For his long iron, Fitzgerald uses a Srixon ZU85 3-iron. This cavity-back design provides forgiveness on those harder-to-hit long irons. According to GolfWRX, the shaft for this club is a Project X HZRDUS Black 105 6.5. However, the rest of the iron set shifts to a player’s cavity back. His 4-iron through pitching wedge are TaylorMade P770s. These clubs offer a blend of distance and workability. The shafts in these irons are UST Dart V Iron Shafts from the 120 Series F4. This specific steel shaft is lighter than the 3-iron shaft, helping to maintain swing speed through the bag.
Around the greens, the equipment choices become even more specialized. Fitzgerald uses a set of Miura Golf Forged Wedge Series clubs. He carries three specific lofts: a 50-degree, a 54-degree, and a 60-degree wedge. According to GolfWRX, these wedges are paired with KBS Tour V 120-X shafts. This heavy steel shaft provides a solid feel for delicate shots. Finally, the putter on the bag is an L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i. This model is designed for face-balanced putting, which suits a straight-back, straight-through stroke. The grip on this putter is a SuperStroke Flatso 1.0, a flat-top design that helps stabilize the hands during the stroke.
Why This Bag Matters for Amateurs
This setup offers a fascinating look at how a high-level amateur approaches equipment. Fitzgerald isn’t just grabbing whatever is on the shelf. He has mixed forged wedges with game-improvement irons, a common trend among skilled players who want forgiveness in the long game but precision in the short game. The choice of a 3HL fairway wood over a standard 3-wood suggests a desire for consistency off the deck, which is crucial for anyone playing in a pro-am setting. The shaft selection is particularly telling. Using a 70-gram driver shaft alongside a 105-gram 3-iron shaft shows a clear understanding of weight distribution. He wants speed off the tee but control and stability into the greens. This is not a random collection of clubs; it is a thoughtfully engineered bag. The presence of L.A.B. Golf and Miura also highlights a willingness to try niche brands that offer specific performance benefits, rather than sticking strictly to the biggest marketing names.
What Fans Should Watch Next
With a bag this complete, the question becomes how Fitzgerald will perform under pressure. The equipment is ready for tournament play, not just a practice round. Fans should watch to see if he sticks with this exact setup for future events or if he tweaks the lofts and shafts based on course conditions. The mix of brands is unique, and seeing how these specific components work together over a full round will provide valuable data for other golfers. As Fitzgerald continues to compete, his equipment choices will likely evolve. For now, the 3M Open pro-am bag stands as a testament to a serious player who respects the science of golf gear. Keep an eye on his results to see if this high-end hardware translates to low scores.
