Sang-Moon Bae won the HP Byron Nelson Championship with Callaway’s new Hex Chrome+ golf ball. Bae, a Callaway staff player, joined Phil Mickelson and Gary Woodland in using the new ball. The Hex Chrome+ features a dual mantle that minimizes spin off the tee, plus a soft TPU cover for control, according to the company.

Putt for dough? Absolutely. Bae used an Odyssey Tour Milled No. 1 putter to finish first in putts per green hit in regulation and second in strokes gained-putting. He led the field with 21 birdies.

The rest of Bae’s bag: Razr Fit driver (8.5 degree), Razr Fit 3-wood (15 degree), X Hot Pro hybrid (18 degree), X Utility Prototype iron (21 degree), Razr X MuscleBack irons (4-9) and X Forged wedges (48, 52 and 60 degree). His clubs were equipped with Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips.

The X Utility iron was built by Callaway for the 2012 U.S. Open. The length is 39 inches with a steel True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shaft.

Bae’s gapping of wedges warrants notice: An 8-degree gap between a sand wedge and lob wedge indicates a heavy reliance on the 60-degree wedge. For most PGA ...

The USGA and R&A officially announced the ban of the anchored stroke on Tuesday morning, sending plenty of golf's elite players, coaches and equipment manufacturers to Twitter to make a statement.

We'll be monitoring the world's reaction to this decision all day long, as well as gathering reaction on the ground at the Senior PGA, Crowne Plaza Invitational and overseas at Wentworth.

Here is a collection of early reaction:

• • •

Bernhard Langer, two-time Masters winner and current Champions Tour player who has used a long putter since the mid-1990s

It's disappointing . . . very disappointing. It's the same thing I've said for months: I don't know why they couldn't come to the same conclusion 40 years ago that they did today. Why does it take 40 years? Just because we have major winners, that's what it comes down to.

What does this do to you from a competition standpoint?

I don't know . . . it's two years from now . . . I don't know. We'll have to wait to see what the PGA Tour says, and right now, we're all guessing. We'll see what the PGA Tour does. If they make ...

FAR HILLS, N.J. – It felt like a wake, and in a way it was.

With the adoption of Rule 14-1b, the anchored stroke in golf officially is going the way of square grooves, the concave-faced wedge and croquet-style putting. In fact, the U.S. Golf Association can break ground on its retrospective exhibit at the museum next door on an era in golf when at least four majors were won with a method of stroke set to be banned on Jan. 1, 2016.

The mood was somber and the skies a gray foreboding mass as attendees at the USGA’s headquarters waited to hear anchoring’s fate after a 90-day comment period that had dragged too long. Some picked at muffins and a spread of fruit, but any hope that golf’s governing bodies might take a mulligan on the ban, first proposed Nov. 28, vanished when the R&A scooped their counterparts on this side of the pond and published its news release 25 minutes before the scheduled 8 a.m. EDT announcement. It confirmed that the text of the final rule is the same as previously proposed.

But as the saying goes, the show must go on ...

FAR HILLS, N.J. – This was not the blockbuster occasion that some had envisioned.

In a modest auditorium at the U.S. Golf Association’s Golf House, a small group of two dozen people gathered Tuesday to hear the announcement that Rule 14-1B had been adopted by the game’s two rulesmaking bodies: the USGA and R&A.

This ends all the speculation. The use of the anchored stroke – whether it be for putting, chipping or any other attempt to hit the ball – officially will be prohibited as of Jan. 1, 2016.

The atmosphere was strangely quiet. It felt like a library.

As it turned out, there were no changes to the rules proposal first presented on Nov. 28, 2012. Tuesday’s tranquil gathering got underway at 8 a.m. Eastern time and ended at 8:29 after a few predictable questions from journalists.

One influential person who operated largely behind the scenes was Mark Newell, chairman of the USGA’s Rules of Golf Committee. Newell is a retired litigation attorney who lives in northern Virginia and plays to an 11.6 handicap.

Newell’s personality fit nicely with the serenity that permeated the gathering. He is articulate and soft-spoken ...

A word of advice regarding Rule 14-1B, the new anti-anchoring rule: Be careful, be very careful.

This much is clear: Intent will be very important in interpreting the rule.

“It is all about the intent of the player,” Thomas Pagel, senior director of Rules of Golf and Amateur Status, told Golfweek. “If a player makes a stroke, and the butt end of the club happens to catch his stomach, or happens to catch his shirt, that’s not intentionally holding the club against the body.

“As far as situations where it is difficult to tell, it (any possible penalty) is based on the intent of the player, on the integrity of the player.”

An important point: Under Rule 14-1B, golfers are allowed to tuck their forearms or elbows against the body while putting. This will not be considered anchoring.

However, there is an exception: A player will be in violation of the new rule if he or she tucks a forearm against his body and, at the same time, uses a split-handed putting grip.

This method would have the effect of creating a pivot point (with the player’s forearm) for the purpose of using a fulcrum-type stroke. It would ...

ST. LOUIS – In a conference room on the second floor of the clubhouse at Bellerive Country Club, site of this week's 74th Senior PGA Championship, PGA of America president Ted Bishop followed the USGA press conference announcing the adoption of Rule 14-1b to ban the anchored stroke starting in 2016.

Bishop, an early dissenter regarding a ban of the anchored stroke, sat calmly, eating yogurt and answering the occasional text message before the announcement. But Bishop has known for weeks of the USGA/R&A decision, having been briefed by the USGA two weeks ago at The Players championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Yet as USGA president Glen Nager was announcing the ultimate ban, Bishop still was trying to wrap his arms around what he already knew and how his organization of 27,000 members would deal with the decision.

“It's hard for me to answer that question right now because I really haven't thought much about that,” Bishop said when asked what it would mean for the PGA of America not to follow the anchoring ban. “I held out hope really all the way up through the week of The Players Championship that there might ...

Nearly six months after the USGA and R&A proposed a ban on anchoring, golf’s two governing bodies have made Rule 14-1b official during a press conference on Tuesday morning.

The Rule’s purpose is to ensure that all players face the same challenge of controlling the entire club in making a stroke and to eliminate anchoring’s potential advantages.

In advance of Tuesday's announcement, USGA executive director Mike Davis, USGA president Glen Nager and USGA’s Rules Committee Chairman Mark Newell fielded questions from Golfweek on an array of topics pertaining to the anchoring ban.

• • •

Since nothing has changed to the proposed ruling, why do you think the golfers will feel like their voice has been heard?

Nager: We have done an extensive analysis of the comments received and shared with the public our assessment of the comments so those who have provided us with the comments, for which we're deeply appreciative, will know that (they have) been heard and will know what our thinking is.

• • •

There's certainly a perception that the USGA is an elitist organization that's out of touch with everyday golfers. Is there any concern that a decision like this only ...

Over the past few months The PGA of America has taken a vocal and active position which reflected the strong viewpoint of our PGA Professionals in opposing the USGA and R&A's proposed Rule 14-1b that would ban the anchored stroke. Today, the governing bodies indicated that they will proceed with the formal adoption of the rule.

We are disappointed with this outcome. As we have said publicly and repeatedly during the comment period, we do not believe 14-1b is in the best interest of recreational golfers and we are concerned about the negative impact it may have on both the enjoyment and growth of the game. Growing the game is one of the fundamental purposes of The PGA of America.

Although we do not agree with the decision, we applaud the USGA for its willingness to listen to our concerns and engage in meaningful discussions. In our opinion and based on our experience, the USGA treated the comment period for what it was intended to be -- a time to exchange opinions, concerns and potential solutions.

We should also note that our difference of opinion regarding 14-1b should not in any way detract from the healthy relationship we have ...

Take the poll here

Sang Moon Bae broke through in dramatic style on Sunday to win his first PGA Tour event, capturing the HP Byron Nelson Championship. Bae is the first player to win on Tour using Callaway's new HEX Chrome+ golf ball. Here is a complete list of the clubs he used at the TPC Four Seasons Resort:

DRIVER: Callaway RAZR Fit (8.5 degree) with a Graphite Design Tour AD DI shaft

FAIRWAY WOOD: Callaway RAZR Fit (15 degree) with a Graphite Design Tour AD DI shaft

HYBRID: Callaway X Hot Pro (18 degree) with a Matrix HD HM3 Black Tie shaft

IRONS: Callaway X Utility Prototype (21 degree) with a True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shaft; RAZR X Muscleback (4-9) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue shafts

WEDGES: Callaway X Forged (48, 52, 60 degree) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue shafts

PUTTER: Odyssey Tour Milled #1

BALL: Callaway HEX Chrome+

• • •

Here are this week's other winners:

Graeme McDowell (European Tour – Volvo Match Play)

Driver: Cleveland Classic 290 (9 degree; Miyazaki Kusala Indigo 56x shaft)

Fairway wood: Cleveland Launcher FL 3-wood (14 degree; Miyazaki Kusala Indigo 72x shaft)

Hybrid: Adams Idea a7 (22 degree; Matrix Ozik Altus ...

Call it the Wedge Wars.

Several equipment manufacturers are intensifying their efforts in the category. No surprise, longtime wedge leaders such as Titleist, Ping and Cleveland are battling for greater market share, but others, including Cobra, are joining the fray.

Cobra first developed its Trusty Rusty wedge series in 1997, but the company never expanded the Trusty Rusty family to compete consistently with category heavyweights.

But now, Cobra officials say, they mean business.

The 55-degree Tour Trusty wedge is about to be introduced in a limited-edition version. That wedge will be followed by additional Tour Trusty wedges, starting at 47 degrees and going all the way to 63 degrees in odd-numbered loft increments. This means nine different Tour Trusty lofts will be available. Furthermore, the 55- and 59-degree wedges will feature a choice of different bounce configurations.

Consumers also will have a choice of two finishes, black or satin chrome. Neither finish will rust, which is a departure from the Trusty Rusty wedges.

“In recent years, there have been a lot of changes in what people believe in and look for in wedges,” said Jose Miraflor, Cobra's director of product marketing. “We wanted to come out with a modern ...

If you have a question about the latest golf clubs and equipment or are wondering what gear the PGA Tour stars are using, send a Tweet to Golfweek senior writer David Dusek at @DavidDusek.

Some recent inquiries:

Brent,

Do you mean this black TaylorMade R1?

That black-and-white photo, which appeared recently on the USGA Conforming Driver Head list, is creating some buzz.

"Factually, the driver that is on the USGA Conforming List is left-handed, 400-cc prototype driver," says Dave Cordero, a public relations manager for TaylorMade. "I can tell you that as a company of golfers, we've been really excited to see what the outcry has been and to see the reaction to it."

Cordero would not say when, if ever, this smaller-headed version of the R1 would find it's way to retail.

• • •

Ryan,

There has been no official word from Titleist, and the world of golf equipment is full of changes. But here's some historical perspective:

Two weeks after Graeme McDowell won the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Titleist brought the 910D2 and 910D3 drivers to the PGA Tour for the first time at the AT&T National at the Aronimink Golf Club outside ...

At The Players Championship, Tiger Woods didn’t need his driver much with firm course conditions permitting him to boom his 3-wood and 5-wood prodigious lengths. But to better tackle a tight TPC Sawgrass course, he switched to a heavier driver shaft, from 63 grams (Graphite Design Tour AD Di6-X) to 73 grams (Mitsubishi Diamana White Board 73-X).

His previous three victories in 2013 came with the lighter Graphite Design shaft in his Nike VR Tour driver (8.5 degree). In general, heavier driver shafts translate into improved accuracy.

The rest of Woods’ all-Nike bag: VR_S Covert fairway woods (15 and 19 degree, with Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana Blue Board 103-X shafts); VR Pro Blades (3-PW, with True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts); VR Pro wedges (56 and 60 degree, with True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shafts); Method 001 putter. He played a Nike One Tour D golf ball.

• • •

Mitsubishi wins driver-shaft count: It was a strong week at TPC Sawgrass for Mitsubishi Rayon, which won the driver-manufacturer shaft count. In addition to Woods, other top-10 finishers using Mitsubishi driver shafts were Sergio Garcia, Ben Crane, Rory McIlroy and Casey Wittenberg.

Roberto Castro, playing a Mitsubishi Diamana ’ilima 70-X in his ...

Although 2012 Players champion Matt Kuchar already used a Bettinardi putter to win this season's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, the five-time PGA Tour winner and the club designer made their partnership official with the release of a signature putter line.

The Matt Kucher Signature putters – the Model 1 and the Model 2 – will be available starting May 15 for $375.

The Model 1 is a heel-toe weighted, face-balanced blade with an extended back flange and single alignment line. It's milled from carbon steel, and like other Bettinardi putters, features a honeycomb pattern on the face. However, the hitting area has a series of grooves designed to help enhance feel and get the ball rolling faster.

The Model 1 will be available in a 35-inch version (which can be trimmed to shorter lengths) with a 350-gram head as well as a "Kuchar Style" – a 42-inch version that has a 400-gram head.

The longer putter is designed to allow golfers to lock the upper portion of the grip against their lead forearm, as Kuchar does when he putts. This putting method is not considered anchoring by the USGA and R&A and would remain legal if the proposed anchored putting ...

Tiger Woods (PGA Tour – The Players Championship)

Driver: Nike VR Tour (8.5 degree; Mitsubishi Diamana White Board 73X shaft)

Fairway woods: Nike VR_S Covert 3-wood (15 degree; Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 103X shaft) and Nike VR_S Covert 5-wood (19 degree; Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 103X shaft)

Irons: Nike VR Pro Blades (3-PW; True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts)

Wedges: Nike VR Pro (56 and 60 degree; True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shafts)

Putter: Nike Method 001

Ball: Nike One Tour D

Footwear: Nike TW '14

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord