Collin Morikawa, the 2021 Open Champion at Royal St. George’s Golf Club, is applying a deliberate change in his equipment setup as he competes at the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland. His Collin Morikawa equipment strategy includes swapping his traditional low-bounce blade short irons for cavity-back irons with additional bounce, a move designed to better handle the firmer turf and different grasses typical of links-style golf courses.
This approach, which Morikawa used prior to his 2021 Open victory, aims to optimize turf interaction, helping him maintain control and consistency over the course. The tactical shift emphasizes how finely tuned his equipment choices have become when faced with the unique challenges of European links golf.
Recent Putter Experimentation Reflects Adaptation Effort
Beyond his irons, Morikawa has also undergone significant changes with his putting equipment. At the 2025 Rocket Classic in Detroit, he abandoned his custom Logan Olson blade putter after a challenging opening round and introduced a custom TaylorMade Spider mallet putter. This adjustment helped stabilize his performance en route to an eventual tie for eighth place despite initial struggles on the greens.
This week in Scotland, Morikawa arrived carrying two TaylorMade Spider mallet putters for testing—a familiar black model he used in Detroit and a newer silver version. The silver putter features increased offset with the shaft and hosel and a more centered shaft angle with less toe hang, variations intended to improve stability and feel.
Ultimately, Morikawa chose to continue with the black version he debuted earlier in the season but has left open the possibility of switching between the two, showing readiness to adapt depending on how his putting develops during the tournament.
Adjustments to Longer Clubs for Windy Links Conditions
Morikawa’s equipment strategy also accounts for Scotland’s notoriously unpredictable weather. If winds increase beyond 20 mph at The Renaissance Club, he plans to replace his reliable TaylorMade 5-wood with a new driving iron prototype from TaylorMade. This driving iron is paired with the Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 hybrid shaft, known for being heavy and low-spinning, optimized to keep shots low and controlled in blustery conditions along the Firth of Forth coastline.
The driving iron’s design enables a high launch velocity with a more penetrating ball flight, which Morikawa favors in strong winds. He stressed the importance of minimizing effort in his swing during adverse weather to avoid mishits, with the club’s lively face providing confidence for cleaner contact under pressure.
Morikawa Shares Insights on His Custom Equipment Choices
In a conversation following his pro-am round on Wednesday, Collin Morikawa elaborated on his recent gear experiments and preferences, shedding light on his meticulous approach to equipment. When asked about changes to his putter, Morikawa reflected on his history of tinkering, saying,
“I think people are just catching up. I mean, I did this in college. I used to show up to every event with three putters and change mid-tournament. I mean, trust me, I’ve gotten to the point where I would want to put in two putters. At this point, right now, it’s nice to have this mallet in the bag.”
—Collin Morikawa, Professional Golfer
He also described his affinity for the TaylorMade Spider mallet’s shape and ongoing adjustments to its neck and offset, stating,
“It’s a shape that I like. So I’m just sticking with it. I think all the iterations of it are just me messing around with different necks, different offsets, but it’s the same putter, essentially. I know it comes down to me stroking it, but you have to feel comfortable over the ball.”
—Collin Morikawa, Professional Golfer
When humorously asked what he would name his putter, he responded,
“Um, The Collin Putter. Only if I putt well with it. If I don’t, I don’t know. Yeah, we’ll see.”
—Collin Morikawa, Professional Golfer
Evaluation of the New Driving Iron and Iron Setups
Regarding the driving iron, Morikawa expressed enthusiasm about its performance but emphasized selective use, explaining,
“First off, I think it’s great. I like a driving iron that comes off really hot, and kind of jumps off the face. It’s something you’re going to use when it’s really windy.”
—Collin Morikawa, Professional Golfer
He continued,
“I’m only going to put it in if it’s blowing over 20 mph, but I’ve found a shaft and found a head that launches nicely. For me, I don’t want to swing hard, especially in the wind, but you don’t want to swing hard with a 2 iron when you have it in your hand, because who knows where you’re going to hit it. So when it jumps off the face, you know you can just kind of make center contact and go from there.”
—Collin Morikawa, Professional Golfer
On his irons, Morikawa reiterated his selective use based on turf conditions:
“Same thing. Yeah, same thing. Pitching wedge through 7-iron, and then 4-, 5- and 6-iron, I have these P-7CBs. I just do it bounce wise, coming through this turf – the ball just sits down because it’s so firm and tight out here, and dry in a way that, with my blades sometimes I just catch it thin all the time and it obviously worked a few years ago and we’ve kind of done it every year.”
—Collin Morikawa, Professional Golfer
Morikawa’s Approach to Playing Links Golf in Scotland
Morikawa shared his thoughts on competing in Scotland and his experience with links courses, noting that while he has not played Royal Portrush, he enjoys the challenge of European links golf. He highlighted the creativity required to succeed, saying,
“You just have to be creative, and you kind of have to throw everything out of the window and just hit shots. It’s a skill to be able to do that, and that’s part of how I’ve built my game, and hopefully you can execute these shots and make a lot of putts and birdies, and minimize the mistakes, essentially.”
—Collin Morikawa, Professional Golfer
His equipment changes and flexibility underscore a broader approach to adapting to Scotland’s demanding golfing environment, where course firmness, wind conditions, and turf characteristics all heavily influence shot selection and execution.
The Significance of Morikawa’s Equipment Decisions
Collin Morikawa’s evolving equipment strategy at the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open reflects a detailed understanding of how gear plays a critical role in performance on links courses. By employing cavity-back irons for added bounce, experimenting with putters to find optimal feel, and preparing to use a driving iron suited for high winds, he demonstrates a willingness to adapt continuously to environmental and course demands.
These adjustments not only showcase his technical approach but also suggest that success at links events demands more than talent—it requires constant equipment evaluation and readiness to innovate. Observers can expect that Morikawa’s equipment choices will remain dynamic throughout the tournament as he looks to solidify his place among links golf’s best.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Collin Morikawa the best iron player?
A. People don’t seem very positive about Collin Morikawa at the moment, which is understandable. However, I believe he is the second-best iron player globally. If you bet that another golfer besides Scottie Scheffler would beat Morikawa with irons in 2026, I’d confidently choose Morikawa’s side.
Q. Has Collin Morikawa ever won a major?
A. Collin Morikawa has secured six victories on the PGA Tour, including two major titles. He won the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship during his first appearances. In May 2018, Morikawa was the top-ranked amateur golfer in the world for three weeks.
Q. Did Collin Morikawa ever win a major?
A. Morikawa has achieved six victories on the PGA Tour. Among these are two major titles: the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open, both won in his first attempt.