The Equipment Changes Tour Pros Made at the Houston Open

Houston Open Serves as Equipment Testing Ground

The Houston Open proved to be a significant testing ground for equipment changes, with several high-profile players making notable switches ahead of the season's first major.

Potgieter Seeks More Distance Despite Leading Stats

Already second on the PGA Tour in driving distance and ball speed, Aldrich Potgieter made a surprising equipment change in Houston. The South African switched from the PXG Lightning Tour head he'd been using since joining the brand to an unreleased Tour Max prototype.

"I picked up probably about 2 or 3 miles an hour ball speed, which is huge," Potgieter explained. The new setup also includes improved forgiveness on mishits, with the player noting better bulge and roll characteristics.

Complementing the head change, Potgieter added Fujikawa's newest shaft release - the Ventus TR VeloCore+ Black 7x. According to Fujikawa's tour rep, this represents "one of the stiffest shafts we've ever created," designed for extreme stability without sacrificing feel.

McCarthy's Surprising Putter Switch

Perhaps the most shocking change came from putting specialist Denny McCarthy, who has ranked in the top five for Strokes Gained: Putting in all but one season since 2018. The longtime Scotty Cameron GoLo user switched to a blacked-out TaylorMade Spider Tour X, hoping to address his current 106th ranking in putting.

Other Notable Equipment Updates

- Jason Day added a custom Avoda W3 lob wedge designed for softer conditions - Davis Chatfield received a custom milled insert for his Spider Tour X that replicates the feel of his previous Scotty Cameron GoLo - Rickie Fowler showcased custom Puma golf shoes designed by patients at Texas Children's Hospital