Golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Sergio Garcia make preparatory alterations to their golf equipment ahead of the LIV Golf Chicago tournament, aiming to improve their chances of competition success.
Equipment Shifts and the Pursuit of Performance in the LIV Golf League
The LIV Golf League, heading into its penultimate event in Chicago, has seen a flurry of equipment changes among top players as they strive for optimal performance in the evolving tournament environment.
Bryson DeChambeau, for instance, has switched his golf ball for the Chicago event as part of his ongoing equipment experimentation throughout 2025. His choice this time is a prototype Titleist Pro V1x, a move indicative of his relentless pursuit for performance gains. DeChambeau has also made changes to irons and wedges during the year, demonstrating his focus on fine-tuning his gear to suit the playing conditions and personal feel at LIV events.
Sergio Garcia, another contender in the LIV Golf Chicago event, has made a putter change, returning to a Scotty Cameron Del Mar 3.5. This heel-shafted, toe-heavy model was a part of Garcia's arsenal earlier in his career and at the start of 2024. His putter change, the fourth of 2025 and third consecutive event with a switch, suggests attempts to regain optimal putting feel and consistency, critical for scoring at competitive LIV tournaments.
Dustin Johnson, Thomas Pieters, and Paul Casey have also made equipment adjustments to maintain competitiveness within the LIV format, which features unique elements like a 54-hole structure and team components. While specific changes for these players at this event were not detailed, such changes generally respond to course conditions, personal comfort, or seeking marginal gains under the unique LIV golf style.
Thomas Pieters, for example, has changed his driver shaft from a Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 D to Fujikura Ventus Black 7X. Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson has swapped his TaylorMade QI10 3-wood for a TaylorMade R7 Quad Mini Driver.
The LIV Golf League's format—with its focus on aggressive scheduling, team elements, and substantial prize money, including $20 million purses at Chicago—adds pressure and incentive for players to optimize every aspect of their game, including equipment, to maximize performance.
After the first round of the LIV Golf Chicago event, Bryson DeChambeau and Sergio Garcia find themselves in contention, setting the stage for an exciting finish. The focus on performance optimization, putting consistency, comfort, and adapting to the LIV's competitive environment will undoubtedly continue to influence the players' equipment choices as the league heads towards its final events.
In the pursuit of optimized performance at LIV Golf events, Bryson DeChambeau has opted for a prototype Titleist Pro V1x golf ball, signifying his relentless drive for competitive edge. Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia has reintroduced a Scotty Cameron Del Mar 3.5 putter, an effort aimed at regaining optimal putting consistency essential for scoring success in LIV tournaments.
