Irons That Won the Open Championship

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Don't know about you all, but the next two weeks have me very excited - the Scottish Open at Renaissance and the Open Championship at The Old Course. What, short of Margot Robbie lifting the restraining order and agreeing to that magical weekend away, could be better?

Found this on Twitter this morning - some great old names and some quirky irons used by Open winners.  Thoughts? 

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

After looking at these I couldn't help but think of the Chinese birth years and what animal you are or horoscope readings. I'm an 88 baby so... 

Now I'm tempted to try and find a set.

Thanks for sharing! Some amazing clubs there and some amazing tournaments throughout all those years. Arguably the best couple weeks in golfing coming up for some golf fans. 

[PMookie]

The Ping Eye 2!!! SO much offset, being in the  “game improvement” category these days no Pro would play them because of that. I wish I had a set of those beryllium ones right now!

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

6 minutes ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

After looking at these I couldn't help but think of the Chinese birth years and what animal you are or horoscope readings. I'm an 88 baby so... 

Now I'm tempted to try and find a set.

Thanks for sharing! Some amazing clubs there and some amazing tournaments throughout all those years. Arguably the best couple weeks in golfing coming up for some golf fans. 

1988 - year of the Dragon and the year of the Slazenger Blade.  I'm 1960, so that's year of the Rat (go ahead, I expect it). Kel Nagle won the open in 1960. I think he played PGF irons - hunting for info about them, but I did stumble across this gem...
 

 

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Yep - it was PGF for Kel Nagle. Stands for Precision Golf Forging - it's an Australian band that's still in existence, but in name only. Looks like it offers boxed sets and GI gear - most likely open models. Company probably went bust and someone bought the brand name. 

PGF

PGF stands for Precision Golf Forging and has been around for 85 years! Founded in Sydney in 1932, PGF has deep roots in the Australian golf industry with associations to PGA legends such as Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Ian Baker-Finch and Wayne Grady.

PGF are coined with creating the first parallel tip golf shaft in the 1960’s, which is still used in golf clubs today. They also designed a club called the “Little Slammer” which has been noted as a hybrid before hybrids existed.

 

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Might as well have some fun with this --- find your birth year, your Chinese Zodiac animal and Open Championship winner, then find the irons they used. This is how History's Mysteries got its start!!

[bens197]

Good lord...This is my heaven. 

Ram Tour Grinds & TaylorMade Burner Tours

Purina.

[cnosil]

1965 - Year of Snake

Open Winner - Peter Thompson (his 5th)

Irons - Dunlop/Maxfli  (haven't found model yet)

[Shapotomous]

'62. Year of the Tiger and Arnie's 2nd Open win using '58 Wilson Staff Dynapower Fluidfeel irons from what i can find.  I have a set of those from a later model year that i use in my vintage bag.

[Middler]

Fun trivia. I didn't remember how square the toe was on musclebacks back in the day, looks strange even ungainly to me now.

[MGoBlue100]

10 hours ago, GolfSpy Barbajo said:

Yep - it was PGF for Kel Nagle. Stands for Precision Golf Forging - it's an Australian band that's still in existence, but in name only. Looks like it offers boxed sets and GI gear - most likely open models. Company probably went bust and someone bought the brand name. 

PGF

PGF stands for Precision Golf Forging and has been around for 85 years! Founded in Sydney in 1932, PGF has deep roots in the Australian golf industry with associations to PGA legends such as Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Ian Baker-Finch and Wayne Grady.

PGF are coined with creating the first parallel tip golf shaft in the 1960’s, which is still used in golf clubs today. They also designed a club called the “Little Slammer” which has been noted as a hybrid before hybrids existed.

 

Keep rolling into Second Swing. You’ll find a set sooner or later. 

[fixyurdivot]

Cool chart John!  The PE2's surprise me the most.  Not that they aren't inherently good enough in design but that a top-level tour pro would play them. 

Arnie at Royal Birkdale using Wilson Dyna Powered Fluid Feel (which sounds more like a moniker for a transmission )

[Shankster]

Whatever Mr. Watson had in the bag in 83’

[Kenny B]

5 hours ago, Shankster said:

Whatever Mr. Watson had in the bag in 83’

Not 100% sure, but likely Golden Ram Tour Grind

[GrumpyGolf]

On 7/2/2022 at 8:30 AM, cnosil said:

1965 - Year of Snake

Open Winner - Peter Thompson (his 5th)

Irons - Dunlop/Maxfli  (haven't found model yet)

1967 - Year of the Ram

Open Winner - Roberto di Vicenzo (his only Major but he was the first Major winner from South America - Argentina)

Irons - Dunlop - Maxfli (note this is when Maxfli was also considered a model for Dunlop - Dunlop later sold Maxfli to TaylorMade)

NOTE: I learned all of this today by doing a deep dive and for that I can say thanks MGS!! 

[silver & black]

1959...oink! Gary Player won The Open.

Edited July 5, 2022 by silver & black

[NRJyzr]

May have mentioned this before when this has come up, but the TG-898 set attributed to Nick Price didn't come out until 1998.  He was likely playing either Frequency Matched Golden Rams, or the FX Tour Grinds.