The group of Ernie Els, Dustin Johnson and Billy Horschel tees off at 1:39 p.m. ET in Friday's second round of THE PLAYERS Championship.

You can watch every shot from that group exclusively on PGATOUR.COM (click here for details).

To get you ready to watch that threesome, PGATOUR.COM Equipment Insider Jonathan Wall provides an equipment update on each player. Check it out below.

Get used to seeing Ernie Els with the belly putter for a while longer. (How/Getty Images)

By Jonathan Wall, PGATOUR.COM Equipment Insider

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Ernie Els' run with the belly putter was supposed to come to an end following the final round of the Masters.

But following a week where he finished No. 3 in putts per per hole (1.53) at Augusta National and only recorded one three-putt, the four-time major winner decided to alter his game plan and keep the Odyssey White Hot XG No. 7 in the bag this week at the RBC Heritage.

"I think I was No. 1 in putting last week," Els said. "I really worked with Sherylle [Calder], my putting lady, and she got the message across what she wanted me to do and I really started feeling it. I was going to go with the shorter version this week, but I putter so nicely with it last week, I'm going to keep going with the belly."

With a potential anchor ban looming, Els started working with a conventional-length Odyssey Black Series i No. 1 at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship and officially put the putter in play for three rounds at the Chiangmai Golf Classic in Thailand.

Els' said the goal was to use the belly putter at the Masters — where he felt like it gave him a better chance to make puts on Augusta's green — and start working with the conventional putter shortly thereafter in preparation for the U.S. Open.

However Els' comments on Wednesday painted a completely different picture. Instead of gearing up for Merion with the conventional putter, Els will keep the belly in the bag for the foreseeable future.

"I'm really getting comfortable with both versions," Els said. "Back in most of my career I played very well with the short putter. I feel I can do that again. But it's going so well with the belly, I don't want to stop until they ban it."

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

Ernie Els is giving up his belly putter for a traditional one.

The 43-year-old South African, who began using a belly putter in 2011 and won last year's British Open with it, told Sky Sports he plans to use a short putter at this week's Chiangmai Golf Classic in Thailand.

Els will switch back to the belly putter for the Masters, though with a possible ban on achoring in the future, Els said he wants to be prepared.

"Even if I won here this week, I will use the belly putter at the Masters simply because the greens are so quick over there," he said. "But after the Masters, I'll try to use the short putter more regularly."

Els returns to the Masters after failing to qualify last year for the first time in 18 years.

"I think I used to put so much pressure on myself," Els told Sky Sports. "This year, I just want to enjoy it a bit more. I used to really try to win the tournament.

"My record in the majors is quite good. But at the Masters, it hasn't been good in the last 10 years. I finished second in 2004 and 2000. After '04, something mentally happened. I haven't played well since '04 when Mickelson made that putt (to win). But after missing it last year and going back again this year, it feels like a new beginning."

By Jonathan Wall, PGATOUR.COM Equipment Insider

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- A number of Callaway staffers have switched to Odyssey's new Versa putter over the last month, and it appears Ernie Els could be the next notable name to try it out.

On Wednesday, Odyssey Golf's Principal Designer, Austie Rollinson, tweeted out a photo of Els working with a custom Versa #7 on the putting green at Riviera. 

According to Rollinson, Els took a look at the Versa putter line during the Middle East swing and grew attached to the look of the Versa #7 WBW (white/black/white) version.

Els, who started using an Odyssey White Hot XG #7 belly putter, wanted Rollinson to build him a custom belly that had the look of the Versa #7. 

Looking to give Els exactly what he wanted, Rollinson took a standard White Hot XG #7M design and applied the Versa paint scheme to it. Els received the putter a few weeks back and has been practicing with it at home in Florida. 

"When I talked to him (Tuesday) he told me he really liked to way it looks and had some good results with it while practicing in Florida," Rollinson said.

Els spent the early part of the week working with the putter and could put the custom belly putter in play on Thursday.