NEWS FROM THE TOUR VANS
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For being one of the best players of her generation, it’s fascinating that Lydia Ko has gone all over the map when it comes to equipment.
It’s a trend that dates to 2013 when she turned pro. At the time, Ko’s bag contained multiple brands including a few clubs from the relatively unknown Fourteen Golf. She transitioned into a full Callaway bag during a dominant period of her career as she ascended to No. 1 in the world and won two majors, but a highly scrutinized move to PXG coincided with a period of struggles. Ko signed a five-year contract with the brand in 2017 and only captured two wins during that period as her world ranking dropped sharply, at one point in early 2020 cratering to 55th in the world.
And there was clearly more at play to Ko’s poor performance than her clubs. Her inspired climb back to No. 3 in the world, where she currently resides, happened with a full PXG bag – until the start of this year when Ko’s deal ended and she decided to go back with a mixed bag.
Although she has kept her PXG fairway woods, Ko now has a 9-degree Titleist TSi3 driver, Vokey wedges and a Ping hybrid and putter. But most curious of all the switches was how she went way outside the box once again with her irons. According to Jonathan Wall of Golf.com, Ko has gone with the Japanese-based Proto Concept brand for her 6- to 9-irons. Even within those clubs, Ko opted for different models as she now has a Proto Concept CO7 Forged 6-iron and CO5 Forged 7- to 9-irons. There were no modifications made to the head, meaning these clubs came directly from the consumer line and are available for anyone to purchase.
The Proto Concept clubs beat out Mizuno and Srixon from Ko’s final three. It’s a new brand on the scene but the folks behind it have some clout – Golf Partner, the biggest golf retailer in the world, and manufacturer Endo have worked together to develop Proto Concept. Scott Brown was one of the first PGA Tour players to put them in play when he did so early last year.
How it works out is still to be determined, but Ko recently won the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio in her second start with the new setup. Perspective is important with the 24-year-old Ko. Although it feels like she is much older and went into hibernation for some stretches in the past few years, she still is the youngest player since 1979 to reach 17 LPGA Tour wins.
PXG received flack in the aftermath of Ko leaving the staff and immediately winning. But that blow has been softened as longtime troop Hudson Swafford won the American Express and recent enlistee Luke List claimed his first PGA Tour win, both using PXG irons and wedges.
Sean Fairholm