2025 Gear Recap: From Illegal Drivers to $200M Putter Deals
12/27/2025 by Golf Post Editors
From illegal drivers to ultra-short putters and $200M deals – 2025 was a wild year in golf equipment.
The 2025 golf gear recap reveals which equipment made headlines. (Photos: Getty/Wilson)
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From illegal drivers to ultra-short putters and $200M deals – 2025 was a wild year in golf equipment.
The 2025 golf season delivered plenty of drama – not just on the leaderboard, but also in the bags of the pros. From controversial rule tests to bold innovations, here are the equipment stories that captured the most attention this year.
McIlroy’s Driver Fails the Test
Rory McIlroy’s 2025 PGA Championship campaign began with a surprise: his driver failed a USGA test due to excessive face flexibility. The issue wasn’t cheating – over time, repeated use can alter even the best clubheads. Forced to switch drivers just before a major, McIlroy’s situation highlighted how even elite players must adapt quickly to equipment challenges.
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Tour Gear Leaks and Bold Innovations
Later in the year, TaylorMade made waves with early sightings of its Qi4D driver series during the Abu Dhabi playoffs. Models like the Core with four weights and the low-spin LS appeared in players’ bags before official release, showing how quickly prototypes can reach the tour – and how involved pros are in development.
Meanwhile, Philippe Gariepy turned heads with a putter shorter than a pitching wedge. Inspired by a fun round with a child’s club, he cut down his Scotty Cameron to just 58 cm. The deep stance helped him read breaks better, and the short shaft gave him more control – proof that sometimes, less really is more.
Big Putts, Big Deals
At the U.S. Open, J.J. Spaun’s birdie on the 18th not only made headlines – it also spotlighted his L.A.B. Golf putter. The Direct Force 3 (DF3) features zero-torque and lie-angle balance to reduce face twisting and improve off-center hits. The buzz led to a $200 million acquisition of L.A.B. Golf
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