Valero Texas Open Equipment Roundup: Welded Putter Rails, Rickie's Setup Changes, and Masters Prep

The Valero Texas Open served as the final equipment testing ground before the Masters, with several players making notable changes to their setups.

Austin Eckroat's Welded Putter Innovation

The most unusual modification came from Austin Eckroat, who welded two rails onto his Ping PLD Anser 2 putter sole. This unique design elevates the putter face about a golf ball's width off the ground.

"I wanted the club to sit on two points, especially our greens get baked out here," Eckroat explained. The modification prevents the putter from sliding on firm Bermuda greens and helps establish consistent hand placement.

Rickie Fowler's Equipment Updates

Fowler returned to his TaylorMade BRNR Copper Mini Driver with a Diamana WB 73 TX shaft, moving away from the KING TEC mini he used early in the season. His bag also features a highly offset Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack lob wedge and custom Scotty Cameron center-shafted GoLo putter.

Tommy Fleetwood's Cosmetic Changes

The world No. 4 made subtle changes to his TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter, replacing hand-drawn Sharpie lines with two parallel milled lines and a dot. "Sometimes you just need something different to look at to change up your mindset," Fleetwood noted.

Masters Preparation

With Augusta National approaching, equipment manufacturers are capitalizing on the excitement, including Mitsubishi's Masters-themed Diamana shaft featuring azalea flower designs.