The 12 Drivers of Tiger Woods’ Dominance: A Career Retrospective
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As Tiger Woods approaches his 50th birthday, a look back at the clubs he wielded to amass a record-tying 82 PGA Tour victories reveals a surprising truth: he was never one to settle. Despite a reputation for meticulous consistency, Woods cycled through 12 different drivers during his championship runs, showcasing an ongoing quest for optimal performance. This article details each driver, its specifications, and the triumphs it helped secure, offering a unique insight into the evolution of a golfing legend’s equipment choices.
A History of Innovation and Adaptation
Throughout his illustrious career, Tiger Woods has partnered with four major equipment manufacturers – Cobra, Titleist, Nike, and TaylorMade – demonstrating a willingness to embrace innovation and adapt to changing technologies. The drivers he’s used span a wide range of head sizes, shaft materials, and lofts, reflecting a relentless pursuit of an edge. But which driver proved most successful? The answer, as we’ll reveal, might surprise you.
The Cobra Era (1996-1997)
Tiger Woods’ early success was built on the foundation of Cobra equipment. His first PGA Tour victory came with the Cobra King Cobra Deep Face (True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 steel shaft, 9 degrees) at the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational. This driver remained in the bag through his 1997 Motorola Western Open win, marking the end of this initial chapter.
The Titleist Years (1998-2001)
Switching to Titleist, Woods found continued success with the Titleist 975D (True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 steel shaft, 7.5 degrees). He secured his first major championship victories with this club, including the 1999 PGA, 2000 U.S. Open, 2000 Open Championship, 2000 PGA, and the 2001 Masters. His first win with the 975D came at the 1998 BellSouth Classic, and his last was at the 2001 WGC-NEC Invitational.
The Nike Partnership (2002-2013)
The move to Nike marked a long and fruitful partnership. Woods began with the Nike Forged Titanium (True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 steel shaft, 8.5 degrees), achieving victories at the 2002 Bay Hill Invitational and securing major wins at the 2002 Masters and 2002 U.S. Open.
He then transitioned to the Nike Ignite (True Temper Dynamic prototype steel shaft, 9.5 degrees), finding success at the 2003 WGC-American Express Championship and continuing through the 2004 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
The Nike Ignite 460 (Mitsubishi Diamana shaft, 8.5 degrees) powered him to victories at the 2005 Buick Invitational and major championships at the 2005 Masters and 2005 Open Championship.
Next came the Nike SasQuatch (Mitsubishi Diamana shaft, 8.5 degrees), which he used to win the 2006 Buick Invitational and the 2006 Ford Championship at Doral.
The Nike SasQuatch Tour (Mitsubishi Diamana shaft, 8.5 degrees) proved particularly successful, contributing to four major wins: the 2006 Open Championship, 2006 PGA, 2007 PGA, and the 2008 U.S. Open, alongside his 2006 Open Championship victory.
The Nike SQ Dymo 380 (Mitsubishi Diamana shaft, 8.5 degrees) helped secure a win at the 2009 Arnold Palmer Invitational, and his final victory with it was at the 2009 BMW Championship.
Finally, the Nike VR Tour (Graphite Design Tour AD DI 6 shaft, 8.5 degrees) saw him triumph at the 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational and the 2013 Players Championship. The Nike VR_S Covert Tour (Mitsubishi Diamana shaft, 9.5 degrees) was used to win the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, marking his last victory with a Nike driver.
The TaylorMade Era (2018-2019)
Woods’ final driver switch brought him to TaylorMade. He found immediate success with the TaylorMade M3 460 (Mitsubishi Diamana shaft, 9.5 degrees), winning the 2018 Tour Championship – a victory he repeated with the same club.
He then moved to the TaylorMade M5 (Mitsubishi Diamana shaft, 9 degrees), which he used through his 2019 Zozo Championship win, his 82nd and final PGA Tour victory to date.
The Winningest Weapon
So, which driver was the most successful in Tiger Woods’ hands? The Nike SasQuatch Tour stands above the rest, contributing to an impressive 23 of his 82 PGA Tour victories. This driver clearly played a pivotal role during a dominant period in his career, solidifying its place in golf history.
Tiger Woods’ career is a testament to his skill, dedication, and willingness to adapt. His choice of drivers, while varied, always reflected a commitment to finding the best possible equipment to maximize his performance, a strategy that ultimately led to a legacy of unparalleled success.
