Table of Contents
Have you ever wondered what’s in the bag of this PGA Tour Champions’ golfer? Senior Golf Source founder Erin Blakely caught up with the tour’s best at the recent Chubb Classic and worked tirelessly to get a sneak peek of the Lee Janzen WITB for 2024. Special thanks to Janzen’s caddie, Mike Darby, for giving us a detailed peek.
The 8-time PGA Tour winner celebrates his tenth year on the Tour Champions, where he has racked up 33 top tens, including two victories. While some golfers find their form in their senior years, it has not been smooth sailing for Janzen since joining his fellow legends. We are hoping his 60th birthday year brings him luck.
Lee Janzen WITB Quick Facts Summary
| Birthday | August 28, 1964 |
| Birthplace | Austin, Minnesota |
| Age | 59 |
| Year Turned Pro | 1986 |
| Tournament Wins | 10 |
| Biggest Achievement | Winner (US Open Championship – 93 & 98) |
| Career Earnings | $22,034,903 |
| Senior Ranking | 49 |
What clubs does Lee Janzen use?
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (11.5 degrees)
3 Wood: Callaway Rogue ST LS (15 degrees)
2 Hybrid: Callaway Diablo Edge (18 Degrees)
Irons: Callaway Forged Apex Pro (3 – PW)
Wedges: Callaway JAWS (54-12, 56-12)
Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball Eleven
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond
11.5 degrees
The 1995 Players Champion has started strong off the tee in 2024, averaging almost 80% fairways in regulation after 3 starts. Lee switched to the new Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond, which has already improved his accuracy by 15% over last season.
The low-spinning driver design is excellent for faster swing speeds and clean ball strikers like Mr. Janzen. He plays an 11.5-degree driver, which is actually a 10.5-degree big stick, weakened by one degree, for a higher launch. We recently tested the Paradym Ai Smoke, and our team of senior golfers found the Paradym AI Smoke Max launched easily and flew long.
PROS
- Low spin
- Fast, forgiving clubface
- Beautiful, smokey finish
- Promotes workable flight
CONS
- Expensive driver
- The low spin design is not for slower swing speeds
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Callaway Rogue ST LS 3 Wood
3 Wood – 16 degrees
The legend from Minnesota continues with the low-spinning Callaway Rogue ST LS fairway metal to maximize distance off the deck. Janzen increased the loft by 1 degree using the adjustable hosel, setting the fairway wood at 16-degrees for a slightly higher launch than usual.
The 3-wood produces more neutral flight than the Rogue ST Max and Max D, a shape welcomed by skilled golfers. However, mid and high-handicap seniors might prefer the extra forgiveness from an offset fairway wood, like the ST Max.
PROS
- Low spin
- Neutral to workable flight
- Excellent distance
- Moderately affordable
CONS
- The ball rolls more than I would like on approach shots
- The low spin design is not great for slower swing speeds
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Callaway Diablo Edge Hybrid
2 Hybrid
The two-time U.S. Open winner pulls his hybrid out of the archives in a quest for high ball flight, workability, and forgiveness. The tour model that Janzen plays contains less offset than the stock edition released in 2010, enhancing workability on approach.
An effortless launch and a high ball flight promote a soft, rapid landing, helping tour players hold narrow greens on long shots. While the lack of offset is golden for Champions Tour pros to shape their shots, it might cause amateurs to slice and hook the odds shot, which is why the standard edition is better. The only downside is that you might have to look in a museum to find one.
PROS
- Super easy club to launch
- Maximum Forgiveness
- Produces a soft, fast landing
- The tour version promotes workability
CONS
- High handicappers might slice the odd shot with the minimally offset tour edition
- No new editions are available.
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Callaway Apex Pro Forged Irons
3 Iron – PW
I admire a man who enjoys the classics, and the older Callaway Apex Pro Forged irons in Janzen’s bag are proof of his style. Released in 2013, these irons deliver a buttery soft feel, workable flight, and a flatter trajectory than the stock options.
The Orlando resident has an intriguing iron setup, applying lead tape behind the sweet spot of his 5, 6, 8, and 9 irons. I am surprised he left it off his 7-iron, but maybe he is content with the setup as is. The tape adds extra weight to the clubhead, providing greater stability at impact and encouraging accurate shots.
The lack of forgiveness on these irons is not conducive to the average golfer’s swing. Plus, they are old, and you will struggle to find these irons on the market. Instead, you might consider attractive irons that forgive your poor shots like the Callaway Rogue ST Max set.
PROS
- Buttery soft feel
- Encourages workable flight
- Sounds crisp
- Compact shape
CONS
- Low tolerance for mishits
- Difficult to find these irons on the market
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Callaway JAWS Wedges
Wedges: 54-12; 56-12
The two-time PGA Tour Champions winner continues to fascinate me with his wedge setup. He is one of the few players on tour who carries two wedges, and they are both sand wedges. He chips, pitches, and flops with a 54 and 56-degree Callaway JAWS wedge.
As his caddie, Mike Darby shows us, his wedges have 12 degrees of bounce, which is high and works well for golfers with steep attack angles. The JAWS wedges provide excellent spin thanks to their aggressive grooves, and each sweetly struck shot feels soft and sounds pure.
While solid amateur short-game golfers can handle the JAWS wedge, I suggest the more forgiving Mack Daddy CB for high handicappers.
PROS
- High bounce suits steep attack angles
- Smooth feel
- Excellent spin rate
- Clean finish
CONS
- Expensive wedge
- The high bounce does not suit shallow or neutral attack angles
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Odyssey 2-Ball Eleven Putter
Putter
Besides Janzen’s driver and fairway wood, his Odyssey 2-Ball Eleven putter is one of the newer clubs in his bag. The classic 2-ball alignment aid simplifies lining up every putt, and the rich black finish adds a touch of beauty to the enlarged putter head.
The mallet construction offers enhanced stability and a wider sweet spot for a smooth roll on every strike. The expanded sweet spot also contains topspin and ball speed so that the ball makes it to the vicinity of the cup on off-center strikes. Although a PGA Tour Champions pro putts the 2-Ball Eleven, it can work for golfers of all skill levels.
PROS
- Wider sweet spot
- Enlarged alignment aid
- Produces a smooth roll
- Rich finish
CONS
- Moderately expensive putter
- Minimal hosel options for less arched strokes
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Final Thoughts
Our Lee Janzen WITB 2024 reveals an intriguing mix of new long clubs, classic muscle back irons, and modern short clubs. The professional of 38 years is definitely a fan of Callaway equipment, with every club in his bag stemming from the behemoth brand.
While Janzen’s time on the PGA Tour Champions has not reached the heights of his PGA Tour days, he is more than capable of troubling the leaders. From the Senior Golf Source team, we wish Mr. Janzen a happy 60th birthday in August 2024 and the best of luck to him on his 10th anniversary on the PGA Tour Champions.
Before You Go…
Make sure to check out more PGA Tour Champions WITB articles including Padraig Harrington, KJ Choi, Rob Labritz, Harrison Frazar, and Steve Stricker next!
What other PGA Tour Champions pros WITB would you like to see? Please let us know in the comments section below. We always appreciate the feedback.
