Collin Morikawa is using a club you might see in an 18-handicapper’s bag

Collin Morikawa is proof that not every major champion uses clubs that are made with top players in mind. 

Surely, the best players in the world are playing with blades, low-spinning models and long irons that look like butter knives?

Well, take a look in the American’s bag and you’ll see that isn’t the case. The 2021 Open champion is known for chopping and changing clubs and at the Truist Championship, he swapped his 4-iron for something very unusual for a tour player.

A 9-wood.

Speaking after his opening round, where the fairway wood only made one appearance, missing a green on the long par-3 eighth, the two-time major champion explained how his new caddie, Joe Greiner, had talked him into the surprising switch.

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“Look, I never even thought about a 9-wood,” Morikawa said.

“When we were flying here, I was just asking about 4-irons.

“It’s kind of a club, not that I struggle with, but I want to find the perfect distance and launch, especially in certain conditions. It was a perfect 9-wood, just a bad swing.”

While we’re starting to see plenty of 7-woods make it into players’ bags, a 9-wood is an extreme example of the high lofted fairway wood trend in action.

It’s even more of a surprise when you consider that Morikawa is legitimately one of the best iron players of his generation.

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According to Golf.com, the new club clocks in at 22.5-degrees of loft and is the core model of the TaylorMade Qi35 range.

When you consider the potential upside to the change, it makes sense. A fairway wood is more forgiving, higher launching and easier to hit from the rough, all beneficial, even for someone of Collin Morikawa’s ability.

Those of you who keep up to date with his clubs will know that switching fairway woods isn’t something that comes easily for him.

Morikawa’s 3-wood is a positively vintage model, with a TaylorMade Sim Ti Rocket 3 in play in that slot.

It remains to be seen whether the new addition will have the staying power of the old faithful 3-wood.

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Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor