As first reported by Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, the 15-time major champ has a new 1-wood in the bag in the Bahamas. And it’s one the golfing public knows little about.

Lewis shared a photo of Woods’ TaylorMade Qi10 LS driver, which was just added to the USGA and R&A conforming lists earlier this month. Have a look:

New equipment this week for @TigerWoods at the @HWC2016. He will use this @TaylorMadeGolf Qi10 LS driver that recently made the conforming list. pic.twitter.com/z2p9cEdQWp

— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) November 28, 2023

Here’s what Golf Digest senior editor of equipment Mike Stachura wrote about the club:

Finally, there’s a completely new TaylorMade driver making the rounds. The Qi10 LS features some of the similar looks of the company’s recent drivers, including the angled rear weight port, the face flex-enhancing slot in the sole (known as the “speed pocket”), and some kind of sliding weight at the front part of the sole. Given the sliding weight’s forward position, it doesn’t seem much of a stretch to suggest that the “LS” might refer to “low spin.” Like the Stealth and Stealth 2 before it, this driver includes the word “carbonwood,” a likely reference to the company’s flagship technology of a carbon composite face insert, first seen in the Stealth in 2022 and updated with this year’s Stealth 2 drivers.

And here’s a better look at this new model:

TaylorMade Qi10 LS – Supplied

It might be tough to properly evaluate Woods’ performance with the club this week based on the fact he hasn’t played in a tournament since withdrawing during the third round of the Masters in April. Shortly after, Woods underwent a subtalar fusion surgery on his ankle, and the 47-year-old admitted his “game is rusty” in Tuesday’s press conference.

“I’m just as curious as all of you are to see what happens because I haven’t done it in a while,” Woods said.

But here’s a sneak peak:

New equipment this week for @TigerWoods at the @HWC2016. He will use this @TaylorMadeGolf Qi10 LS driver that recently made the conforming list. pic.twitter.com/z2p9cEdQWp

— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) November 28, 2023

Not too shabby.

Main Image: Andrew Redington

The post Tiger Woods has a new driver in the bag this week appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

McIlroy, competing in the DP World Tour’s season finale in Dubai this week, was seen using TaylorMade’s Qi10 LS driver at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Tuesday. In an interview with the DP World Tour, McIlroy—who already locked up the Old World circuit’s Race to Dubai title—explained that the club would probably be in his bag for the weekend.

“I still want to go out and try to win the golf tournament, but it could be a good time to test it out in competition,” McIlroy said in a video released on the DP World Tour’s social channels. “You’ll probably see a new driver in the bag this week.”

New driver for Rory ? #DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/lYHdc5kPSV

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 13, 2023

Earlier this week TaylorMade’s Qi10 LS driver made its way onto the USGA and R&A conforming lists, allowing for its introduction to competitive play. The Qi10 LS features some of the similar looks of the company’s recent drivers, including the angled rear weight port, the face flex-enhancing slot in the sole (known as the “speed pocket”) and a sliding weight at the front part of the sole. Like the Stealth and Stealth 2 before it, this driver includes the word “carbonwood,” a likely reference to the company’s flagship technology of a carbon-composite face insert first seen in the Stealth in 2022 and updated with this year’s Stealth 2 drivers.

McIlroy first signed with TaylorMade in 2017, and the two entities agreed to a multi-year extension in 2022. The four-time major winner led the PGA Tour this past season in driving distance at 326.3 yards, which set a new tour record, and was second on tour in strokes gained/off-the-tee.

Image: Andrew Redington

The post Rory McIlroy putting unreleased driver in play at season finale in Dubai appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Never one to shy away from taking the latest gear for a spin, ARN presenter and former Golf Digest Middle East editor Robbie Greenfield put the club through its paces in a review for eGolf TV at Trump International Dubai’s TaylorMade Performance Studio.

“The club I’m holding in my hand is one that’s creating a lot of buzz in the market for 2023,” he says. “I have to say, it’s a beautiful looking club. 

“Let’s start with an overview of the TaylorMade MG4 Wedge. It’s fourth generation, which means there were three preceding it. And the story really started with inspiration and insight from, for my money at least, the greatest short-game exponent of all time, the legendary Tiger Woods. 

“It was he who really inspired this ‘Milled Grind’ design and a lot of his input, a lot of his insight was instrumental in developing the quality wedge.

“It has been taken on by today’s great players: Collin Morikawa is one of the key testers for this wedge, Rory McIlroy has so much faith in it that it’s gone straight in his bag. 

“It’s packed full of great technology. It’s a serious wedge in this market.” 

Robbie is quick to point out that the familiar TaylorMade technology is present on the face of the MG4.

“The raw face technology which we found in the MG3 is back,” he adds. “It’s got that almost-rough, almost-sandpaper quality to it. It’s something you notice straight away with this club. When you remove the sticker brand new out of the shop, it begins to oxidise. And that raw face technology is extremely effective at getting spin rates up regardless of whether that’s around the green or with full shots as well. It’s a very noticeable aspect to this club and it’s going to appeal to a lot of players who are looking to generate spin. 

“What is new for the MG4 is laser-etching technology. Think of it, if you like to dumb it down a little bit, as a groove within a groove. It’s a channel which allows more water, more fluid, to escape when conditions are wet, when it’s wet underfoot. Now, you might be thinking: ‘We’re in the Middle East here. It barely ever rains. Surely this isn’t relevant.’ I cannot tell you the amount of times I’ve teed off early in the morning. It’s very dewy. The clubs do get very wet and of course that’s going to affect spin rates. And what we’re trying to achieve is consistency across the board, no matter the conditions with our spin rates. 

“Now, sure, there will be a slight drop-off when it’s wet underfoot, but this laser-etching technology is very effective at bridging the gap between those spin rates from dry conditions to wet conditions.” 

Robbie also finds the MG4 very pleasing to the eye.

“The changes are subtle, but they’re there nonetheless,” he says. “And what you’re looking at really is a smoother profile, a slightly softer, more tour-inspired head shape here. And this works just for when you lay the club open flat to play one of those high, lofted flop shots or if you’re playing a standard shot with a nice square face at address, it looks great. And it comes in two different finishes, a satin chrome and a matte black. 

There are loads of different bounce and grind options. And of course, when you go for your fitting at eGolf Megastore, you can tailor specifically the wedges in your bag to best suit your game. That is important, but the key thing is you’ve got the options here with the TaylorMade MG4.

“Immediate things that I notice having hit a few shots down in the bay to a flag of around 80 yards, the spin is impressive. The ball is stopping, it’s grabbing, which is what we want to see when we’re hitting a wedge. I was getting over 10,000 rpm on the TrackMan, which are great numbers for me, very happy about that. And the other thing is the flight, obviously we want to keep the ball down. We want it to fly a little bit lower, a little bit more penetrating and consistent with a wedge. And I was really happy with what I was seeing here. Some really good trajectory on these wedges. Couple that with some good spin and that’s a winning combination. 

“So all in all, both off the mat of course, which is much easier and off the much more difficult turf. I’m getting a really nice response from the MG4 wedges. 

“It is another impressive launch by the company for 2023 and as with any club but specifically wedges, it’s really important for you to head down to the eGolf Megastore and get fitted when it is when it comes to choosing the different grind options, choosing the different bounce options. Everyone has different specifications that’s going to get the best out of their game. And a fitting is essential when it comes to purchasing a new wedge.”

Wise words, Robbie. Wise words.

Images: Supplied

The post Robbie Greenfield puts the TaylorMade 2023 MG4 Wedge through its paces appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

We also reflect on a successful first year for Viya Golf in Abu Dhabi with Cluster Club Manager Julian Danby, get to grips with the new TaylorMade wedges with Robbie Greenfield and look ahead to the third edition of the Golf Digest Middle East Oktoberfest at The Els Club in Dubai.

All this and much, much more in the October 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East available in both English and Arabic.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your favourite club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

See below for the eighth issue of the Arabic edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

If you want to look back at all our previous Arabic editions of Golf Digest Middle East, click here.

The post Get the October 2023 edition of Golf Digest Middle East FREE here in both English and Arabic today! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

If you’re like many golfers on a golf trip, you’ve done some practice putting in your hotel room. Heck, we’ve seen certain tour pros bold enough to try trick shots through their sliding glass doors and even turn their rooms into makeshift driving ranges. Golfers can be real sickos. And now, those obsessed with the game won’t have to put their clubs down after turndown service at one future resort.

Introducing Bays Golf Experience and Suites, a joint venture between equipment giant TaylorMade and The Bays, which was first reported by Front Office Sports. This new luxury golf resort will be the latest addition to the PGA of America’s spectacular new Frisco, Texas, headquarters, and it truly looks like a golfer’s paradise.

According to FOS, there will be driving range-style hitting bays, a 25,000-square-foot putting green, a 100-foot wide TV screen, and custom club fitting (of course). But what sets this place apart is that it’s also a luxury hotel with a rooftop pool, a restaurant/bar, and 24 suites — each with their own private hitting bays! Talk about a golfer’s paradise. Take a look at some of the rendered images:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Front Office Sports (@frontofficesports)

Pretty snazzy, huh?

“TaylorMade is thrilled to build out a new custom fitting centre at The Bays in Frisco. We look forward to welcoming players from around the world and helping them improve their game with the most advanced and innovative products TaylorMade offers,” TaylorMade CEO David Abeles said in a statement.

And golfers of all abilities look forward to staying there after its expected opening in spring 2025. They just might not get much sleep.

The post TaylorMade’s planned luxury resort featuring hitting bays in every suite is every golfer’s dream appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

He said the problem may have been a driver that was too hot and one he hasn’t figured out yet. And of course, he said: “There’s quite a lot of user error in there, as well.”

While McIlroy came into the week ranked 10th in strokes gained/off-the-tee, and though he’s rarely been known as the most accurate driver on tour, he is tied 183rd in driving accuracy early in the Players, which would be his worst-ever performance in that statistical category.

RELATED: Meet the new TaylorMade Stealth 2 range
Rory calls no-show a ‘slap in the face’

All that said, McIlroy lost nearly six strokes to the field on Thursday based on his play around the green and putting, things his driver had nothing do with.

McIlroy talked after Thursday’s round about the switching out of TaylorMade’s Stealth Plus driver during the week of the Genesis Invitational because he was afraid it might not pass golf’s test for spring-like effect. The problem with the club, which he used during his FedEx Cup championship season all last year and early this year during his win at the Dubai Desert Classic in January on the DP World Tour, was it may have been worn into a state of the face being too hot. He switched to TaylorMade’s latest Stealth 2 Plus, the second version of the company’s drivers that feature a carbon composite face.

“I wish I could use my driver from last year, but I can’t just because you use a driver for so long, and it starts to get a little too … basically it just wouldn’t pass the test,” he told reporters on Thursday. “These driver heads are so finicky, it’s hard to get one exactly the same.”

He said drivers were being tested for conformance at Riviera and he wasn’t comfortable having his old driver in the bag. “The more a club is used, the more it’s hit, the more springy the face becomes,” he said. “I just didn’t even want to take the chance. I just was not comfortable [at the driver potentially failing].”

McIlroy said he’s been struggling with his tee ball the last few weeks. He hasn’t hit more than 50 per cent of the fairways the last two weeks, although he did hit nearly 70 per cent of the fairways in winning the CJ Cup last autumn. He said he likes how the new driver has controlled his miss.

“There’s not a lot of left in it, which I like,” he said. “Historically, my miss off the tee has been left, so it’s nice to know that you’re sort of taking, I guess, that side out of play.” For the year, McIlroy ranks 162nd in right rough tendency, but 62nd in left rough tendency.

The post Players 2023: Rory McIlroy switched to new driver because old one may have been too hot appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

During Thursday’s opening round of the Saudi International, his first competitive tournament of 2023, DeChambeau put in play a TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver. TaylorMade declined to comment on any of the club’s specifics, but the lowest loft listed on the USGA’s list of conforming clubheads for the Stealth 2 Plus is 8 degrees. The club’s adjustable hosel, however, could bring that down as much as another 2 degrees, a potentially important consideration for a player like DeChambeau who has used drivers at that loft and lower in competition.

Another point to note on the club is its shaft. Judging from photos taken at the event, it is clear the shaft is not his normal LA Golf prototype. Rather it appears to be a Project X model.

DeChambeau still appears on Cobra’s website as one of its staff players and is listed as using either the company’s LTD LS model or the King Radspeed. Cobra officials could not be reached for comment as to whether DeChambeau is in violation of his endorsement contract by playing the TaylorMade club.

Among the longest drivers in the game, DeChambeau is known for constantly looking to hit the ball even farther, going so far as to make a bold prediction about driver technology to LIV’s Mike McAllister.

“We’re still on a pursuit to who can make a driver that can work it at 200mph ball speed anywhere and everywhere on the face and still goes in the fairway,” DeChambeau said at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. “When that day comes, that’s going to be eye-opening for a lot of individuals because they will be optimising ball speeds at 195mph, which can fly 360 yards. And that’s going to change the game forever. But we’re not there yet.”

Whether equipment companies will ever get there remains to be seen as making a driver that performs the same way all over the face is currently more fantasy than reality. But that’s not stopping DeChambeau from experimenting in the meantime.

The post A big equipment change for Bryson DeChambeau as he makes his 2023 debut with new TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The TaylorMade Stealth 2 drivers take another bold step in moving to fully carbon composite constructions, this time with special attention to making mis-hits more like centre hits. The changes this year include a new variable thickness carbon composite face that offers improved ball speeds for off-centre hits. Meanwhile, there’s even less titanium in the body, freeing up more mass to add more stability over last year’s models. The trio includes the low-spin Stealth 2 Plus, which offers a sliding weight to tweak ball flight; Stealth 2, the neutral flight, high-forgiveness option ideal for most golfers; and Stealth 2 HD, the most stable model of the three with draw-biased weighting to fight the slice.

Stealth 2 Plus, (8, 9, 10.5 degrees); Stealth 2, Stealth 2 HD, (9, 10.5, 12 degrees). All models feature an adjustable hosel that changes loft by plus/minus two degrees. RRP AED 2,845 – AED 2,945 (TBC)

3 COOL THINGS
1. The hottest face story from 2022 gets hotter for 2023. When TaylorMade debuted the carbon composite face in last year’s Stealth, it wasn’t so much the magical properties of carbon fibres that made it a better face. It was that carbon fibre made the face 40 per cent lighter than a titanium face. In the Stealth 2 drivers, it’s lighter still, just 24 grams or just shy of half of what a standard titanium face might weigh. That frees up more mass to explicitly pinpoint the optimal centre of gravity position and forgiveness for each of the three Stealth models. Basically, that means slightly more forward for the low-spin Stealth 2 Plus, slightly more rearward on the forgiving Stealth 2 and slightly deep and more heelward on the high-launching, slice-correcting Stealth 2 HD.
But that’s not the only improvement in the carbon composite face on this year’s Stealth 2. Like the original, the face is constructed by 60 distinct layers of carbon fibre that are arranged to provide a more flexible perimeter with thinner sections around the centre thicker region. This year, those perimeter areas are even thinner. Thinner means more flexible, thereby leading to more consistent ball speed all across the face. It’s more than just making a thicker centre and thinner perimeter, said Tomo Bystedt, TaylorMade’s senior director of product creation for woods.
“The thickest part was basically in the centre face before and we moved it about seven millimetres toe-ward,” he said, noting that makes a little more area of the face on the heel side thinner. “That evens out the speed profile of the face because obviously the heel is going to tend to be slower because you have a little bit shorter span in the heel. So this really maximises the hottest area of the face.”

2. More carbon equals more forgiveness. It wasn’t only the face that increased forgiveness for this year’s edition of TaylorMade drivers. A new body construction also reduced the non-carbon sections to almost none, freeing up more mass that was used in different ways in Stealth 2 Plus, Stealth 2 and Stealth 2 HD. In past models, there was a titanium frame that housed the carbon composite face and then a ring of either titanium or aluminium that circled the body or like in last year’s Stealth, a titanium sole plate. The carbon composite crown and sole sections were bonded to that ring. Now the ring itself is a carbon-reinforced composite, making it even lighter and allowing for a fully carbon composite sole to replace the titanium sole plate.
While that made the sole itself lighter, it allowed for more mass to be precisely positioned. On the Stealth 2 Plus, that means the sliding weight is now 15 grams instead of 10 to help increase the low forward centre of gravity position, but it also means more mass also could go into the weight at the rear base of the driver, far away from that CG. It’s what TaylorMade calls the “inertia generator”, and it sits low in a keel at the back end of the driver to maximise off-centre hit stability. In fact, it’s nearly triple the weight that was in the back before. On the Stealth 2, that rear weight is now 25 grams and it’s some 30 grams on the high-forgiveness Stealth 2 HD, some four or five times what it was before. The freedom to move mass to specific different regions within the head is what sets the Stealth 2 family apart, Bystedt said.
“I think you can see where we’re starting to basically break the trade off between ‘Do you want a low-spin, low-forward CG type of club or do you want the forgiving one?’” he said.

3. Which one’s for me? While each of the Stealth 2 drivers are more forgiving than last year’s models, particularly the Stealth 2 Plus, they still target distinct audiences. The movable weight on the Stealth 2 Plus is more substantial so it can better tweak a slight fade or slight draw preference, but it is still aimed at players who contact the centre of the face more often. As the lowest spin offering, higher swing speed players will see more benefits from this model versus the others. The Stealth 2 offers the most ideal mix of forgiveness, launch and spin for most non-elite players. Meanwhile, the Stealth 2 HD is the highest-launching and most forgiving of the three drivers. Its rear weight is repositioned more toward the heel to particularly target the slice, and its standard lie angle is four degrees more upright than Stealth 2 Plus to encourage more of a draw.

TaylorMade Stealth 2 Fairway Woods

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Stealth 2 family of fairway woods and hybrids benefit from a new lightweight carbon composite crown section that extends around the edges of the perimeter to save more weight and lower the centre of gravity for better launch and increased energy transfer. The line includes high-forgiveness, draw-enhancing fairway woods and hybrids (the HD models), the easier launching, faster-faced standard models and better player options with the more iron-like flight of the Stealth Plus hybrid and multiple adjustability and driver-like face of the titanium Stealth Plus fairway wood.

Fairway woods: Stealth 2 Plus (15, 18 degrees); Stealth 2 (15, 16.5, 18, 21, 24 degrees); Stealth 2 HD ($xxx; 16, 19, 22 degrees). Hybrids: Stealth 2 (19, 22, 25, 28, 31 degrees); Stealth 2 HD (19, 22, 25, 28 degrees); Stealth 2 Plus (17, 19.5, 22 degrees, adjustable). Prices TBC

3 COOL THINGS

1. A carbon crown that goes beyond the crown. With fairway woods and hybrids making up the longest clubs hit off the fairway, figuring out ways to lower the centreof gravity (to help shots launch higher) and fixing mis-hits (because the vast majority of impacts occur below the centre of the face) seem crucial. For the new Stealth 2 fairway woods and hybrids, that meant the weight-saving benefits of a traditional carbon composite crown weren’t enough. These clubs extend the carbon composite around the edges of crown so that it overlaps into the rear and side skirt portions of each head. That allows the saved weight to be used differently in each model.
On the Stealth 2 Plus fairway wood and hybrid, that weight is pushed low and forward to decrease spin, while also providing for multiple adjustability features for better players to more specifically tweak their ball flight and distance gapping needs. On the Stealth 2 versions, it’s a mix of low and to the perimeter for improved launch with forgiveness. For the Stealth 2 HD models, the majority of that weight is pushed to the perimeter so off-centre hits lose less ball speed.

2. Distinct shapes for different players and their flight needs. The solutions to make fairway woods and hybrids more effective for different types of players is not just about how different materials might be used or how weight might be redistributed. Sometimes it’s also a case of different shapes. For instance the Stealth 2 HD fairway woods and hybrids are larger to create more forgiveness on off-centre hits (the fairway wood is a whopping 200 cubic centimetres), but they’re still designed with flatter soles to help keep the CGs plenty low. Meanwhile, the standard Stealth 2 models lower the crown height from past models to create lower CG and a more confidence-inspiring shallow face. Finally, the Stealth 2 Plus hybrid is more compact to give better players the workability they prefer in an iron with just the right amount of added forgiveness.

3. How the technology in a $xxx fairway wood makes you forget its price. While all the Stealth 2 fairway woods and hybrids benefit from new variable face thickness patterns that extend the area of the face that produces the highest ball speeds and all also feature a slot in the sole to help shots lower on the face fly faster, only the Stealth 2 Plus fairway wood has the added power of driver-like titanium. TaylorMade is on its fourth generation of compact, better-player titanium fairway woods, but this one easily is the most playable for average golfers, too. Past versions have used a massive steel weight pad to push the centre of gravity extremely low and well forward. That’s perfect for low-spin but not so great for off-centre hit forgiveness. The solution with Stealth 2 Plus fairway is to take that massive weight pad (50 grams on this year’s model) and have it slide from front to back. There are eight possible positions that allow the user to up the forgiveness by nearly 20 per cent and increase the spin, another way to help less than elite players get the ball in the air. Even better, the sliding weight moves in and out from a compartment within the sole, keeping the surface smooth for clean turf interaction.
“We wanted to see if there was something we could do to make that more inclusive and more appealing to a wider audience,” said Bystedt. “So this new system completely changes the club without you having to change the whole club or put a different head on there.”

TaylorMade Stealth HD Irons

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Designed with the slower swinger in mind, the Stealth HD irons offer a low-profile clubhead designed to create a lower centre of gravity to promote a higher launch with a draw bias. The step-down sole helps mitigate the effect of shots hit a tad heavy.

PRICE/AVAILABILITY: $xxx per iron (steel).

3 COOL THINGS

1. Function over form. The low-profile clubhead is, well, a different look, but when players start hitting better shots, any opposition to the shape tends to quickly melt away. Especially when the shape is a main contributor to helping get the ball in the air and promotes a draw bias.
The shallow face height combines with a wide sole to drive the centre of gravity low. The shape combines with a multi-material cap-back that is significantly lighter than the steel it is replacing. That not only drives the centre of gravity lower as well by removing weight from up high but helps make the club easier to square at impact. Further, because there is no badge bonded to the back of the club, it allows the face to move more freely.
An additional benefit of the CG being low is that low is where the majority of iron impacts occur, and you want the centre of gravity as close to where shots are being struck as possible.

2. Understanding the golfer fuelled this design. To design a club for less-skilled players, you first need to understand what makes them tick. The challenge with that is in order to understand that player type, you need to test with them first and the less skilled the player, the more unreliable the data can be.
“This group has a very wide array of swings,” said Matt Bovee, TaylorMade’s director of product creation for irons. “We wanted to simplify the process for them.”
Feeling this player valued hitting quality shots more often than targeting a score, TaylorMade boiled its player testing down to this: Did you consider it a successful shot? “We found that high launching and high spinning was good,” said Bovee. Anything with a draw flight also was valued. Importantly, the data showed that between 26 and 31 degrees of loft there was only about a 1.5-yard difference.
“Strong lofts just don’t get the ball in the air,” said Bovee. “We found the optimal launch with a 7-iron was with a 30-degree 7-iron. It made us look at the loft progression throughout the set. We also found that this player really didn’t need an iron lower than the 5-iron so we start the set there and use sole slots in the 5- through 8-irons to create speed and launch in the clubs where these players need the most help.”

3. Sole searching. This player tends to make contact with more turf than they need to, so creating a sole design that helps the club exit the ground easier is almost a necessity. For the Stealth HD (HD stands for “high draw,” by the way), that not only meant a wide sole, but one precisely shaped.
Specifically, the sole features a “step-down” feature in the rear of the sole that helps prevent digging while still being able to maintain a wide sole. But the design doesn’t stop there. There is a noticeable curvature of the sole from heel to toe that not only prevents heel and toe digs in certain lies, but promotes contact slightly higher on the face, which enhances launch and spin.

The post Meet the new TaylorMade Stealth 2 range: What you need to know appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

A 12-time winner on the LPGA Tour (including a pair of major championships), Henderson is among the LPGA’s elite, currently ranked No. 7 in the world. After switching to TaylorMade’s TP5x ball last year she racked up two victories and 10 top-10 finishes. One of the wins was her second major title at the Amundi Evian Championship.

First it was the golf ball. Now it’s the whole bag. ?

After watching @BrookeHenderson pick up a win and a major title with #TP5x, we can’t wait to watch what she has in store with a full lineup of TM clubs in her bag. #TeamTaylorMade #BeyondDriven pic.twitter.com/O89HV6jEEs

— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) January 18, 2023

“Brooke is a terrific athlete and one of the fiercest competitors in the game, and we are excited to see her continue to excel on the course while representing TaylorMade,” said David Abeles, president and CEO for TaylorMade. “She is already one of the most recognizable and successful athletes on the LPGA Tour. The sky is the limit for her to elevate her game and profile within the world of golf.”

Henderson, who has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the world, will have a bagful of TaylorMade equipment in play when she tees it up at the at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona in Orlando. As for the specific clubs, her woods will be the company’s new Stealth 2 Plus model (driver, fairway woods) with a Stealth 2 rescue club. The irons will be the P790 along with a trio of Milled Grind 3 wedges. The putter is a center-shafted Spider GT model and Henderson will continue to use the TP5x ball.

“As a player, consistency with my driver and control with my irons are key,” Henderson said in a statement released by the company. “I love hitting driver because power is a big part of my game, and Stealth 2 Plus has helped me add distance, which is always great. With the irons and wedges, I could quickly feel how much control I had with each swing. I’m excited for a full season with TaylorMade equipment in the bag and to continue building on what we started with the golf ball.”

The post TaylorMade bolsters LPGA Tour staff as Brooke Henderson joins Nelly Korda appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

RELATED: TaylorMade puts fire in the irons

An eight-time winner on the LPGA (including one major championship) as well as an Olympic gold medallist and Aramco Team Series champ in Spain, Korda, previously with Titleist, fits in nicely with the company’s tour strategy.

“I signed with TaylorMade because of their proven ability to elevate the game of the best golfers in the world,” Korda said. “In testing with the TaylorMade tour team, it was clear that not only was I working with high-performing equipment, but also a team that shared my passion for working as hard as possible to be in the best position to win.”

The announcement came a day after Korda revealed via social media that she had signed a deal with Nike to wear its apparel.

Although Korda continues to test equipment, her set-up for this week’s LPGA 2023 opener, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona, appears to include a 9-degree TaylorMade new Stealth 2 HD driver as well as Stealth 2 fairway woods and a split set of P770 and P7MC irons along with a pair of Milled Grind 3 wedges. The company did not say whether Korda would start out with one of the company’s putters.

According to TaylorMade, Korda preferred the draw-bias HD driver because it fit her desired shot shape off the tee. The P770s in the longer iron provided the height she was seeking while the P7MCs in the short irons delivered consistent distance control.

“Nelly sets a standard of excellence that we are motivated to match by putting the highest performing equipment possible in her hands each week she competes,” said TaylorMade CEO David Abeles. “We are looking forward to working with Nelly towards accomplishing her goal of more major championships and victories on the LPGA Tour in the years to come.”

In addition to signing Korda, the company is also reported to be close to a deal with another LPGA star, Brooke Henderson. Stay tuned.

The post Nelly Korda signs multiyear equipment deal with TaylorMade appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.