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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

Hideki Matsuyama has been in and around the PGA Tour for a long time now. However, it wasn’t until he won the 2024 Genesis Invitational that he regained his mojo. Prior to that victory, he had been out of the Top 10 rankings for as many as 343 days. And what’s more, before that win, Matsuyama’s last victory came way back in the 2022 Sony Open in Hawaii.

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But since 2024, Matsuyama hasn’t let his form dip, even this season. Playing at the 2025 Sentry, the Japanese star clinched the twelfth PGA Tour victory of his career. And with it, he became the most prolific PGA Tour winner, surpassing the likes of KJ Choi. In fact, he now has two more titles than Choi. 

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Now, as Matsuyama prepares for the Hero World Challenge, we break down the equipment he’s counting on.

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What competitive advantage is Hideki Matsuyama looking to gain with his setup?

Hideki Matsuyama chooses the Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5°) as his driver. This equipment, priced at around $500 (by Worldwide Gold Shops), has a  Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX shaft. Matsuyama also uses the Srixon Z Star XV golf ball, one of the most popular options on the Tour.

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The driver that Matsuyama prefers is the Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS – the lowest-spinning driver from Srixon. The driver also comes with a Rebound Frame’s Dual Flex Zone, which helps the golfer to focus more concentrated energy on the ball. That in turn increases the speed of the ball, resulting in a higher distance covered.

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USA Today via Reuters

The Olympic medalist uses a TaylorMade Qi10 3-wood as his fairway. Priced at $350 (by Worldwide Golf), its unique design and crown cut frees up mass, helping in optimal weight distribution with a 190cc head.

Since 1979, TaylorMade has been known for producing some of the best drivers. However, in the last decade, they have also found their ground in shaping some quality fairways with the carbon crown M2 range. 

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Matsuyama also has a more unorthodox Cobra King RadSpeed Tour 5-wood (17.5°) in his bag. Priced at $129 (by Global Golf), it comes with a myFly8 adjustable hosel. It’s their new technique incorporated to let the golfer choose the loft and change the lie angle according to the demands of the match play. The Baffler rail system of the Cobra King is known for smooth gliding on the course.

Hideki carries a full set of Srixon Z-Forged II irons (4-9i). Since the last few years, the performance graph of Srixon irons has been rising. Alongside Matsuyama, who is a Srixon staff player, Brooks Koepka has also chosen the Srixon irons. Matsuyama carries a set from  4 to 9-iron. They are made with 1020 Carbon Steel, and mid-height toe and heel allow weight to be strategically located while the golfer is taking a shot.

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The Japanese PGA Tour golfer has Cleveland RTX4 Forged Prototype wedges in his bag. It’s priced at around $170. It has three unique features, which include the Hydra Zip, which helps in enhancing friction and maximizing spin in varied conditions. Alongside that comes the Zip core and Ultizip, which help in increasing spin and distance.

Matsuyama prefers the Titleist Scotty Cameron Prototype putter to score his holes. The putter that is preferred by the Japanese star is very similar to the Scotty Cameron Super Select Newport. And alongside that, he uses Srixon Z-Star XV golf balls. Now, only time will tell how his setup helps him in the upcoming Hero World Challenge.

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Written by

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Disita Sikdar

3,240 Articles

Disita Sikdar is a Senior Writer for EssentiallySports, primarily covering golf while also reporting on Olympic sports, including gymnastics and wrestling. She has a strong eye for record-breaking performances, world leads, and moments that carry long-term significance across individual sports. Whether tracking a leaderboard swing on Sunday afternoon or breaking down a career-defining Olympic routine, Disita approaches stories with speed, clarity, and context.

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Edited by

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Janainah Fazlin Anam

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