In the first five events of the 2026 PGA Tour season, a mix of established and new drivers has helped secure victories for top players. One putter has claimed 80% of the wins, bucking the zero-torque trend prevalent on tour. Here's a breakdown of the equipment used by the champions so far.
The 2026 PGA Tour season kicked off with strong performances across five tournaments, where drivers played a key role in success. Chris Gotterup opened the year with a win at the Sony Open, using the Ping G440 LST, a low-spin model suited to his 124mph clubhead speed. This marked the first of his two victories this season.
Scottie Scheffler followed at the American Express, sticking with his TaylorMade Qi10 driver despite testing newer models in the off-season. As he noted in related coverage, when it works, it works.
Justin Rose, at age 45, captured the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines with a Callaway Ai Smoke TD MAX. He fired a first-round 62 on the North Course, followed by 65, 68, and 70 on the South Course, winning by seven strokes over Pierceson Coody, Si Woo Kim, and Ryo Hisatsune.
Gotterup secured his second title at the WM Phoenix Open, defeating Hideki Matsuyama in a playoff. He relied again on the Ping G440 LST, highlighted by a nearly 350-yard drive on the 18th at TPC Scottsdale, followed by a long birdie putt.
Collin Morikawa closed the stretch with a one-stroke victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, managing wind and rain on Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill using a TaylorMade Qi4D LS driver for spin control. His setup included a putter originally built for another PGA Tour player, contributing to his precise play.
Meanwhile, one dominant putter has been used in four of the five wins, standing out against the tour's shift toward zero-torque designs. These equipment choices underscore the blend of reliability and innovation driving early-season results.
