Equipment
The drivers used by the top-10 most accurate players on the PGA Tour
What drivers do the PGA Tour’s most accurate golfers use to find the short grass? Now that the 2017-2018 PGA Tour season is behind us, we can do a thorough examination.
First, here’s a tally of what the top 10 in driving accuracy on Tour are using by driver manufacturer.
- Callaway: 5
- PXG: 1
- TaylorMade: 4
But this is GolfWRX, so of course you want to know more. Below is a breakdown of the driving-distance leaders on the PGA Tour in 2017-2018, the available specifics of their drivers, shafts and how often their tee shots found the fairway.
10. Jim Furyk
Driver: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero
Loft: 9 degrees
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 6.2X
Driving accuracy percentage: 69.77
9. Steve Wheatcroft
Driver: Callaway Rogue
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100
Driving accuracy percentage: 69.79
8. Emiliano Grillo
Driver: Callaway GBB Epic
Loft: 9 degrees
Shaft: Aldila NV 2KXV
Driving accuracy percentage: 69.89
7. Brian Gay
Driver: TaylorMade M2
Shaft: Aldila Rogue MAX 65TX
Driving accuracy percentage: 70.92
6. Kyle Stanley
Driver: TaylorMade M1
Loft: 10.5 degrees
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution
Driving accuracy percentage: 71.20
5. Brian Stuard
Driver: Callaway Rogue Sub Zero
Loft: 10.5 degrees
Shaft: Project X EvenFlow Max Carry
Driving accuracy percentage: 71.21
4. Ryan Moore
Driver: PXG ZZ
Loft: 9 degrees
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ-6
Driving accuracy percentage: 71.94
3. Chez Reavie
Driver: TaylorMade M2 2017
Loft: 9.5 degrees
Shaft: Aldila Rogue 60TX
Driving accuracy percentage: 72.09
2. Ryan Armour
Driver: TaylorMade M1 2017
Shaft: UST Mamiya Elements Proto 6F5
Loft: 10.5 degrees
Driving accuracy percentage: 73.58
1. Henrik Stenson*
Driver: Callaway Rogue
Loft: 9 degrees
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS 6.5 62
Driving accuracy percentage: 74.79
*Stenson, as we know, tees off with his beloved 13-degree Callaway Diablo Octane Tour 3-wood with a Graffaloy Blue shaft the vast majority of the time.
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.
Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.
We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.
Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).
See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here
Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge
Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.
View this post on Instagram
A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.
See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here
Turning Back the clock
Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.
But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.
For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.
Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.
The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.
The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.
Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter
Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.
Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.
View this post on Instagram
It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.
If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.
Brilliant.
See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here
Stricker’s unrecognizable putter
Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.
Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.
View this post on Instagram
Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates
Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.
Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.
It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.
Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines
Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.
Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.
FitzMagic teams back up
Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.
See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here
And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.
We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!
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- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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View this post on Instagram
Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)
Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)...
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Bruce
Dec 2, 2018 at 11:30 am
Need to see the list for the 10 worst as comparison. Also breakdown of all drivers on tour. Then the stats will be approaching meaningful
Matt
Nov 15, 2018 at 2:12 pm
If I didn’t know better I’d think this was a list from 2017. All the TM guys are using older models. Isn’t twist face supposed to be an “accuracy” technology? Imagine how straight they’d be with the new tech! Hopefully the sarcasm is coming through.
Scooter6
Oct 18, 2018 at 10:37 am
Would like to see a more useful field of pros- top in combined driving proficiency (length and distance). Also, I agree that driver length is a very useful piece of information since most PGA players use a SHORTER than factory length shaft.
Leftshot
Oct 17, 2018 at 1:19 pm
EVERY player has a different shaft and a different head. So, this seems like it argues for getting custom fit as opposed to favoring any product.
Second, since only 1% of us have a 110-130 MPH swing speed, the makes and models featured are even more irrelevant.
Now you could have made these points and others that would have made this article of some value, but you didn’t.
John Krug
Oct 17, 2018 at 11:39 am
10 drivers, each with a different shaft. This article is as useful as telling us the shoe size and width of the shoes worn by each player.
Stop whining
Oct 18, 2018 at 3:19 am
Stop with the shoe size analogy. You used that on the longest drivers article. Maybe go with hat size next time?
Pete
Oct 19, 2018 at 6:06 am
Hey, it works!
Alfonso
Oct 17, 2018 at 11:32 am
Interesting statistics. But not everyone in the amateur world have a perfect swing like these guys. I would like read what shafts are used by the average amateur.
Jim
Oct 17, 2018 at 9:27 am
How many wins from these guys vs. the top 10 longest hitters?
GMR
Oct 17, 2018 at 4:41 am
Interesting to note that not a single TwistFace on that list
Rob
Oct 17, 2018 at 4:57 pm
Exactly what I noticed!
GolfDude
Nov 3, 2018 at 8:06 pm
5/10 Top Money earners for last season were TwistFace players
Terry
Oct 16, 2018 at 10:03 pm
Its the Indian not the arrow
CrashTestDummy
Oct 17, 2018 at 2:31 am
It’s the Indian with a well fitted arrow.
Steve
Oct 17, 2018 at 8:22 am
If you’ve got swing flaws, fitting doesn’t help.
Tyler
Oct 17, 2018 at 11:26 am
False
clueless
Nov 29, 2018 at 10:42 am
as jackie burke would say. if a guy doesn’t have a clue, keep him in the dark. at the edge of the driving range. just keep him there clueless and hitting it crooked.
Brian
Oct 17, 2018 at 8:25 am
This isn’t an article about golf balls (i.e. the Arrow), this is about drivers which would correspond to the bow in that oft repeated, flawed analogy.
NormW
Oct 17, 2018 at 11:36 am
Agree, but it’s interesting to see their club choice and loft.
Ol' Gaffer
Oct 16, 2018 at 9:01 pm
I bet that the 10 most INaccurate players also play the same or similar drivers. If you wanna be more accurate don’t carry a low loft driver… get a BANG 12-14-16º driver and the added loft will defeat your slice and increase your draw height. I play a Ping G2 400cc, 15.5º driver and have a 200-220 yard carry.
kapooow
Oct 17, 2018 at 11:19 pm
if you don’t got a 275 yard driver carry you shud not be on this forum
West Phi
Oct 16, 2018 at 8:18 pm
3-wood is no way near the same as driver for Stenson…Stenson is actually a horrible driver of the tee with driver…
Craig
Oct 16, 2018 at 4:38 pm
wow what happened to twist face helping accuracy!!!
Tiger Noods
Oct 16, 2018 at 3:43 pm
Interesting to see what the short-knockers use. I’ll stick to Ping or TM, thanks.
Brad
Oct 16, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Stenson averages 291 yards off the tee, and he almost always uses his 3 wood. Yeah, he’s a real short-knocker…
Kev
Oct 16, 2018 at 2:11 pm
More importantly; what’s the shaft length of these drivers?
Alfredo Smith
Oct 16, 2018 at 3:20 pm
Excellant point!!
Tommy
Oct 16, 2018 at 1:56 pm
Maybe this article should have been titled, “The drivers used by the PGA Tour’s shortest hitters”. The reason most of these guys are on this list is that they don’t hit it very far by Tour standards. Just sayin’
BMoney
Oct 16, 2018 at 10:55 am
I thought Stenson finally got rid of the Octane 3 wood?
Jim
Oct 16, 2018 at 1:15 pm
Stenson tried to each year with a new 3W that is callaway’s current lineup but inevitably switchs back to the Octane. I read somewhere it is because he delofts the club at impact the extra loft from the 3w helps him. Surprised he never got into those higher lofted mini drivers.
Benny
Nov 22, 2018 at 7:19 pm
The oem’s want these guys on latest equipment. TMag is the worst and why every two years Sergio’s is a whole new bag. Because many of these Pros are supposed to be playing and promoting certain nrands or lines. Keagan for years played a Cleveland Classic (TI of course). But in any WITB articles it was always a Srixon driver and head cover. He literally carried the Srixon driver with him just in case there was photos. I am suprised the OEM’s don’t get back into disguising the clubs and shafts again. But maybe there is issues with this, who knows.