Mickelson’s plug boosts demand for new Callaway driver

A golf gear maker can’t get much better PR than having the winner of a high-profile PGA Tour event brag to the TV world about how his new tools helped him bag the W. Callaway Golf enjoyed such a huge lift from Phil Mickelson’s pitch -- immediately after he crushed Tiger Woods in Sunday’s finale to the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am -- for his prototype Callaway RAZR driver that the company accelerated the retail release date for the driver, RAZR X HL irons and hybrids, forged wedges, and Odyssey ProType Tour Series putters.

"I certainly am confident now heading into some of our big events," Mickelson told reporters after tallying a 17-under score for the week that resulted in a two-shot win over Charlie Wi and his 40th PGA Tour victory. "I feel like my putter is back and I feel like I've got a driver that's dialed in with our new RAZR Fit Driver. I've got such control over my flight, trajectory and distance control."

Phil Mickelson really, really likes his new Callaway RAZR Fit driver (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Mickelson’s flawless play on Sunday, during which he hit 13 of 14 fairways, led to a huge demand for the driver and Callaway’s decision to rush its clubs to retail outlets on Wednesday instead of waiting until Friday. Earning the nod as Editor’s Choice on Golf Digest’s "Hot List" and a snazzy new marketing campaign starring Justin Timberlake and Las Vegas helped boost demand for the clubs as well.

"Phil's win Sunday certainly contributed to the excitement around RAZR Fit," a Callaway spokesperson told us Tuesday, on the eve of the manufacturer’s announcement that it had escalated the availability of the RAZR Fit sticks. The RAZR Fit driver, Callaway’s first club with an adjustable hosel and movable weights on the sole, retails for $399.

As for the rest of the bats in Mickelson’s satchel, here’s what the four-time major champ carried last week and will play this week in the Northern Trust Open:

• Big Bertha Diablo 3-wood (15 degrees)
• X-Hybrid (19 degrees)
• RAZR X Muscle Back Irons (6-PW)
• Callaway Prototype 5-iron
• X-Forged 4-iron
• Odyssey White Hot XG PT 82 Blade putter

That putter, along with the HEX Black Tour golf ball -- which, the golfer said, gave him "a big advantage" in cold, windy conditions -- helped Mickelson drain an eagle and six birdie putts on Sunday. He was also first in the field in strokes gained in putting in the final two rounds of the Pebble Beach tourney.