Trend Tracker: Gear Notes From The Zurich and The Chevron

This week, the PGA TOUR is headed back to Texas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, where the defending champion is Canadian Taylor Pendrith. But before we get into this week, we need to take a look back at some other big events in golf from this past week in New Orleans at the Zurich Classic, on the LPGA Tour at the Chevron Championship, and in Hainan Island, China for the Hainan Classic.

*Every product is independently selected by editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

Since this week at the Zurich was a team event, instead of the standard rundown, I think it’s important to offer up a deep dive on the gear of both players on the winning team of Andrew Novack and Ben Griffin.

Team Game

Let's start with Ben Griffin's clubs because he’s one of the few players on the PGA Tour who uses the Ping G430 Max 10K. Now, most golfers associate 10K MOI drivers as clubs designed to be used by higher handicap golfers in need of forgiveness, but as showcased by Ben, they can be extremely useful for any golfer when they’re properly fit. Ben's no ball speed slouch either. He hit 181 mph ball speed on the 18th hole coming down the stretch.

Now, speaking of Ping drivers, Andrew Novack, the other half of the winning duo, also plays a Ping driver but uses the G440 LST. It's one of only a few non-Srixon or Cleveland clubs in his bag, and when it comes to Cleveland Andrew was extremely effecient around the greens this week.

Maxfli Wins Again

But enough about clubs, we need to talk about Ben Griffin's golf ball. What makes this win at the Zurich Classic extremely interesting from a consumer perspective is the fact that Ben Griffin won using a Maxfi Tour X golf ball. Why is a Maxfli golf ball a big deal? Well, for those who are unaware, Maxfi is an in-house brand owned by Dick's Sporting Goods which means you can only find Maxfi golf balls at DICK'S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy and on their respected websites.

Now normally, in-house brand products are designed to entice consumers with a value-based proposition, meaning that they're going to be less expensive than the main line products from the major OEMs while also offering performance that is close to it.

To be clear, there haven’t been any retailer house-branded products used to win on the PGA TOUR since I can remember. This is what separates Maxfli from any other brand (beyond the apparel space) on the PGA TOUR because they are willing to compete at the highest level of professional golf while also offering uniquely designed golf balls that are regularly priced under $40 per dozen.

Plus to go along with their golf ball and accessory line, Maxfli also recently released two different sets of forged irons, the XC2 and XC3 which can be custom ordered just like any major OEM and are priced at just $1,000 in their stock configuration. If you want to learn more about these irons check out the our coverage of that release, here: Maxfli is Back With Two New Premium Forged Irons

One last thing to note on the winner's golf ball rota before we get to the winning clubs. In team golf, whoever is set to hit the approach shot in alternate shot format gets priority in what ball is used for that hole. That means, Ben Griffin would use Andrew Novak's ball off the tee to set up Griffin's approach—a Srixon Z-Star Diamond Golf Ball several times throughout the tournament.

Winning Clubs

Ben Griffin

Driver: Ping G430 Max 10K

Fairway woods: TaylorMade Qi35

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

Wedges: Mizuno Pro T-1 (50/56) TaylorMade MG2 (60)

Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Prototype

Golf Ball: Maxfli Tour X

Andrew Novak

Driver: Ping G440 LST

Fairway woods: Ping G440 Max (15/18)

Irons: Srixon ZX& MKII (4-6), Z-Forged II (7-PW)

Wedges: Cleveland RTX (50/54/60)

Putter: Odyssey AI One Milled 7

Golf Ball: Srixon Z-Star Dimond

Wild Chevron Finish

Off the top, the defending champion at the Chevron Championship, Nelly Korda didn’t get her week off to a hot start when she shot 77, and the one club in her bag that she has been back and forth with is here putter. As reported by GolfWeek’s Beth Ann Nichols, Nelly used a different putter for the 3rd and final rounds (TaylorMade Spider), after using a different putter earlier in the week and at the prior LPGA Tour event.

*Getty Images

Winning Clubs

Mao Saigo

*Getty Images

As for the winner Mao Saigo, she won a crazy 5-way playoff that included a 3-putt for par and 2 birdie lip-outs to win her first LPGA Major. Here’s a look at her clubs:

Driver: Titleist GT3

Fairway woods: Titleist GT2 (15/21)

Hybrids: Titleist GT2 (21/24)

Irons: Mizuno JPX (6-Pw)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50/54/58)

Putter: Odyssey Stroke Lab Rossie

Golf Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS

Mizuno Wins Across the Board

Beyond Andrew Novack playing Srixon irons, it was a clean sweep for Mizuno irons on major tours with Marco Penge also winning in China at the Hainan Classic. Not only does he (and Ben Griffin) use Mizuno's newest Mizuno Pro S-3 irons, but Marco (one of the longest hitters on the DP World Tour) also uses the ST-X 230 driver.

This is the first noted Mizuno driver win since Grayson Murray used the same ST-X 230 driver for his win at the 2024 Sony Open.