Patrick Reed playing Nike VR Pro irons in his 2018 debut at the CareerBuilder Challenge
Equipment

Patrick Reed playing Nike VR Pro irons in his 2018 debut at the CareerBuilder Challenge

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Patrick Reed became a bit of a mystery in the brief gap in the PGA Tour season. His name disappeared from a list of Callaway Golf staffers, meaning Reed was no longer playing their equipment under contract. Then, his name didn't show up in any other clubmaker's announcements for new signings. Even stranger, Reed did sign a deal to wear Nike Golf clothes. But still no equipment deal.

The intrigue, then, around Reed and his first 2018 start at the CareerBuilder Challenge was centered on figuring out what in the world would be in his bag.

As it turns out, it's apparently an old friend.

Reed is playing Nike VR Pro blades this week in the California desert, bringing back a set of irons he used before going to Callaway Golf.

Captain America is also using a new TaylorMade Golf M3 driver, and he's still rocking an Odyssey Pro putter.

So, what does all of this mean? Well, it could mean Reed is going off the grid this year in terms of equipment deals, which would be a fascinating development. However, the more likely outcome is Reed will eventually sign a deal with an equipment maker for some kind of deal. That said, there have been a number of players we've already seen this year, including Jason Dufner, choosing to skip out on equipment deals altogether so that they can play what they want, when they want.

We'll have to keep our eyes open to see if Reed's bag makeup changes in the coming weeks and months. But for now, Reed is mostly a company man (again) with Nike.

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Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is a scratch golfer...sometimes.

Ballengee can be reached by email at ryan[at]thegolfnewsnet.com

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