Scottie Scheffler's surprise (and unique) TaylorMade driver switch | Tour Report

Ahead of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the opening leg of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, Scottie Scheffler has made an unexpected gear change that is catching the attention of the golf world. Known for his incredible consistency and dominance in Strokes Gained: Off-The-Tee over the past four seasons, Scheffler has decided to swap his trusted TaylorMade Qi10 driver for the newer Qi4D model. GOLF equipment editor Jack Hirsh reports that this is only the second time this season Scheffler has utilized the Qi4D in competition, with previous stints being brief. Scheffler first tested the Qi4D at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and earlier at the unofficial Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas last December. On both previous occasions, he reverted to his faithful Qi10, the club that has helped him secure 16 professional victories, including three majors and an Olympic Gold Medal. The version of the Qi4D in Scheffler’s bag features several bespoke modifications that differentiate it from the retail version. Most notably, the driver boasts a custom blue face, a feature that aligns with his visual preferences from the Qi10. While TaylorMade provides various face optics for staff players—such as the 'light face' options used by Rory McIlroy—Scheffler remains the only player utilizing the blue-faced Qi4D this year. Additionally, Scheffler’s driver is equipped with a glossy crown, replacing the matte finish standard on all other Qi4D models, further mimicking the look and feel of his long-time favorite Qi10. In his opening round of 68 at TPC Southwind, Scheffler gained more than a shot on the field off-the-tee, ranking 10th for the round despite hitting just four fairways. His performance suggests that the change hasn't hindered his play, though Scheffler has yet to comment on the specific motivation behind the switch. Meanwhile, the equipment changes on Tour extend beyond Scheffler. Harris English, who has long been a fixture with his college-era Ping Scottsdale Hohum putter, has made a surprising switch to the Ping Scottsdale TEC Ketsch H. Ping Tour Rep Kenton Oates noted that the company never expected English to move away from his Hohum. However, after a dip in his putting performance following the Genesis Scottish Open, English sought a new feel. The decision to switch was heavily influenced by his practice putter, an old-school Ping Pal from the 1970s. By incorporating features like the Anser-style hosel and the PEBAX insert from the Scottsdale TEC line, English was able to replicate the feel he loved in the Pal, leading to an immediate improvement in his Strokes Gained: Putting stats. Finally, Akshay Bhatia is continuing his tactical adjustment of the top end of his bag. For the hot and firm conditions in Memphis, Bhatia has introduced a new 21-degree Callaway Apex UW cut to 38.5 inches. According to Callaway Tour rep Zach Smith, this makes it one of the shortest Fujikura Ventus-equipped clubs of its type on the circuit. By matching the length to his standard X Forged UT 4-iron, Bhatia is seeing more consistent spin rates and a higher peak ball flight, offering him more control in tournament conditions. These shifts in equipment among the game's elite serve as a reminder that even at the highest level of professional golf, the pursuit of the perfect setup is a continuous and evolving process.