Griffin Wins Again, Titleist Irons Debut, & Callaway Goes Sandstorm - Trend Tracker

This week the PGA TOUR is headed to Jack’s place in Dublin, Ohio, at Muirfield Village Golf Club, where Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion. But before we get to one of the last events leading up to the U.S. Open, we should look back at the recent Charles Schwab Challenge held at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

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Trend Tracker is going to be a little different this week because at Colonial and the Sudal Open in Antwerp, Belgium, Titleist did something it only does every two years - launch a new iron series.

Now if you’re looking for the rundown of what we know so far about these new irons, I covered them here: First Look: Titleist Shows Off Newest 2025 T-Series Irons

(New T-Series Titleist irons)

The Cliffnotes:

There are 4 new models on their way with three continuing on with the current generation name; T100, T150, and T350, and then one replacement for the T200, the new T250. Not only that, but to go along with the irons, there were also two additional utilities, the T250 U and U 505.

So now that we have the basics, here are the 39 players who made the switch as of Thursday at their respective tournaments in Fort Worth & Belgium, as well as the clubs that went into their bags.

At the Charles Schwab Challenge:

• Zac Blair - T100 5-6 irons

• Rafa Campos - T150 4-9 irons

• Bud Cauley - T250 3-4 irons (Finished T-3 in the event)

• Cam Davis - U•505 3-iron

• Doug Ghim - T250 4-iron, T150 5-iron, and T100 6-9 irons. (Doug hit 17/18 greens during his second on Friday - Finished T-46)

• Lanto Griffin - T100 4-9 irons

• Joe Highsmith - T250 2-iron, T100 4-9 irons

• Lee Hodges - T250 3-4 irons;, and T100 5-6 irons

• Rico Hoey - T100 4-iron

• Charley Hoffman - T150 5-6 irons, and T100 7-9 irons

• Tom Hoge - T250 3-iron

• Tom Kim - T100 4-iron

• Ben Kohles - T250 4-5 irons

• Peter Malnati - T150 4-5 irons, and T100 6-9 irons

• Aldrich Potgieter - T250 2-iron, and T100 4-5 irons (Finished T-6)

• Davis Riley - T250 3-iron

• Hayden Springer - T150 4-9 irons

• Jackson Suber - T250 2-iron

• Kris Ventura - T250 2-iron and T100 4-9 irons (Fiinished T16)

• Jhonattan Vegas - T250 3-iron

At the Soudal Open:

• Wil Besseling - T100 4-iron

• Lucas Bjerregaard - T150 3-iron, and T100 4-iron

• Todd Clements - T250 4-iron, and T100 5-9 irons

• Manuel Elvira - T100 4-9 irons (Finished 11th)

• Alexander Frances - T100 4-9 irons

• Alex Fitzpatrick - T100 4-9 irons (Finished 11th)

• Ricardo Gouveia - T100 4-9 irons

• Jordan Gumberg - T100 4-iron

• Calum Hill - T100 4-9 irons

• Daniel Hillier - T100 3-9 irons

• Scott Jamieson - T100 4-9 irons

• Jeong Weon Ko - T100 5-P irons

• Kazuma Kobori - T100 6-9 irons (Finished 25th)

• Francesco Laporta - T250 4-5 irons, and T100 6-P irons (Finished 11th)

• Haotong Li - T250 3-iron (Finished 4th)

• Zander Lombard - T250 4-iron, and T150 5-P irons

• Jacob Skov Olesen - T150 4-5 irons, and T100 6-P irons

• Yannik Paul - T100 7-9 irons (FInished 37th)

• Jason Scrivener -T100 4-5 irons (FInished 37th)

Looking at the sets and partial sets that went into play this week on both sides of the Atlantic, there is certainly a continued trend of players using more forgiving longer irons at the top end of the bag, especially on the PGA TOUR where courses tend to be longer. Another interesting observation is how of the 22 sets (or partial sets) of T100s that went into play (which includes a 9-iron) only 4 of the players decided to use the matching set pitching wedge.

This is part of a trend that has players opting to use specialty pitching wedges (one that matches their gap, sand, and lob wedges) rather than the set pitching wedge for added versatility and spin control. It also helps that more manufacturers are making stronger lofted wedges to fit player needs, including Titleist’s Vokey line that now has a 44-degree option.

But Vokey isn’t the only one. Cleveland offers a 46-degree in their RTZ line, Callaway has a 48-degree in the Opus, Ping has a 46-degree in the S159, TaylorMade has a 46-degree in the MG4, and Mizuno has a 46-degree in the T3 and T1.

So now that we’ve gone about as deep as we can on the first week of the new T-Series irons being available to PGA TOUR and DP World Tour players, we have to talk about the winner this week at the Charles Schwab.

Griffin Wins Again

After so much talk about players switching gear this week, one player who hasn't made many changes this year just won for the second time, Ben Griffin. This marks his first official (non-team) win on the PGA TOUR and the second win for a Maxfli gof ball in 2025 (those are words that seemed impossible to be grouped together just a few years ago!).

Although it got close a couple of times on the back nine at Colonial, he managed to edge Matti Schmid by a shot along with a big group of chasers that included Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood, and Bud Cauley who we should add has put together a very impressive 2025 season so far with 4 Top-10s.

Here's a look at the clubs Ben used to get the job done

Driver - Ping G430 Max 10K

3-Wood - TaylorMade Qi35

Irons - Mizuno JPX 923 (3-iron), Mizuno Pro S-3 (4-PW)

Wedges - Mizuno Pro T1 (50 & 56), and TaylorMade MG4 60

Putter - Scotty Cameron Concept Newport 2

Ball - Maxfli Tour X

Callaway Launches Sandstorm Elyte Drivers

When I hear the word "Sandstorm" my mind goes right to the smash hit song from the year 2000 by Darude (it could be one of the best earoworms you can catch). But, Callaway has other ideas when it comes to Sandstorm with their new Elyte Sandstorm driver series available in the Standard (core), Triple Diamond, and Triple Diamond Max models. Its a fun release well timed with Memorial Day and is now on pre-sale, until May 30 when it hits store shelves.

It comes with a custom Sandstorm cover, and is shafted with a Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei Sandstor, edition.

The standard model with be priced at $650 while the Triple Diamond and TD MAX will retail for $700