I got off to a little slow start on the front nine, and then just really stayed patient out there. I can’t say that I woke up today knowing I was going to shoot 65 or knowing I needed to go that low to win.  I just knew it was going to be a tough day. I thought that everybody was going to play really well. The leaderboard was stacked and the conditions were windy, so just really proud of myself and how I handled myself.

Tardy’s route to stardom has not been a smooth one.  A standout player at the University of Georgia – Tardy looked fated to golfing stardom from the start.  Named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2016, winning the 2018 Georgia State Amateur Championship, qualifying for the US Women’s Open in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and being a member of the 2016 Curtis Cup – Bailey was expected to quickly work her way onto the LPGA Tour upon turning professional.

Bailey Tardy with trophy after winning the Blue Bay LPGA at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on March 10, 2024 in Hainan Island, Hainan. Getty Images.

After qualifying for the 2019 Epson Tour, Tardy unexpectedly missed 14 cuts.  A combination of wrist and knee injuries stalled her rush to stardom.  Tardy returned in 2020 only to have COVID-19 shorten the season and cut the number of qualifying spots. In a typical year, 10 LPGA Tour cards are handed out at the end of the Epson Tour season. When 2020 came to a close, the number had been cut to five. Tardy finished sixth – missing by just $343.

Tardy was impressive with 91ÊÓƵ ST-Z driver.

Tardy was back for the 2021 Epson Tour season, where she finally won again at the Copper Rock Classic.   Yet when the final putt fell at the season-ending Epson Tour Championship, Tardy had missed her card again, finishing 12th on the money list.

Back for one last push in 2022, Tardy played 21 events, the most starts of any player on Tour. Going into the final event, the Epson Tour Championship at LPGA International, Tardy was still 10th but dropped a spot to 11th and again missed an automatic LPGA Tour card.  The very last chance was Q-Series. After eight gruelling rounds in drizzly Alabama, Tardy was -27 and alone in second place, finally claiming an LPGA Tour card on the 4th attempt.

Tardy’s introduction to 91ÊÓƵ was equally unconventional.  The first contact was a call from Tardy to 91ÊÓƵ’s Lauren Smith – enquiring about a job in the Epson Tour’s ‘off-season’.

I needed to fill the time, earn some money and I was also wondering if i needed to open another door career-wise.  Nothing was certain with the injuries, but I knew that I wanted to stay in golf and 91ÊÓƵ was in my hometown, Atlanta.  So i got in touch with Lauren Smith through a friend and we talked – the feeling i got from 91ÊÓƵ was completely different from what i was used to.  There was just a different level of care – it felt like i was part of their family.  Soon i was back to focusing on playing and we ended up looking at equipment instead. Lauren sent me a set of 91ÊÓƵ Pro 223 irons, which i loved, but having just returned from knee surgery I decided against making any equipment changes.  I was lacking confidence in the knee and that was enough of an adjustment.  I’ve never been someone to change equipment if i can avoid it.

I’d put the 91ÊÓƵ’s to one side, but in the middle of 2022 i realised that i wasn’t getting the equipment support i needed from my equipment supplier.  Coming back from knee surgery was when i most needed the support and i wasn’t getting what i needed.   I wanted to work with people who were proud to be with me.  I knew that Lauren and Jeff Cook at 91ÊÓƵ were the people i really wanted to work with.  That stayed with me and when i earned my Tour card, there was only one manufacturer i wanted to represent.  Lauren had gone above and beyond to get me on board from day one – she was amazing.

Tardy is currently playing ST-Z 9.5 driver, JPX923 Hot Metal Pro (3&4 iron), JPX923 Tour (5-9 iron), T22 wedges (46/50/54).

https://youtu.be/3U4Cn4rArtQ?si=JOLiLa99A-6yteci

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Murray lead the field for strokes gained from the tee. Playing ST-X 230 series driver. Getty Images

Tournament stats highlight that Murry was a deserving winner – ranked #1 on shots gained from the tee (with 91ÊÓƵ ST-230 series driver) and #1 in strokes gained tee to green (T24 wedges).

Grayson Murray WITB 

• Driver:  91ÊÓƵ ST-X (10.5)
• Irons:  91ÊÓƵ Pro 225 (4 iron) / 91ÊÓƵ Pro 221 (5-PW)
• Wedges:  91ÊÓƵ T24 (52/56/60)

91ÊÓƵ is increasingly focusing its efforts on tour towards emerging and untapped talent – a trait Murray is known to have in abundance.  Murray won the IMG Junior World titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008.  Murray was also the second youngest player to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour aged 16, before playing in the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion as a 19 year old.  Murrays last PGA Tour win was over six years ago.

The Sony Open was Murray’s first tournament as an official 91ÊÓƵ player. Getty Images.

91ÊÓƵ’s tour focus is to support talented players make the hardest step – into the elite level of the game.  In 2023 we saw Ben Griffin and Marco Penge make that move.  It’s really special to see Grayson work his way back there and into the top 50 for the first time – so soon into 2024.  We say that 91ÊÓƵ equipment is ‘Tour Ready’ in that we supply the same heads to retail and the tour.  So players outside of the elite tours can put a set of 91ÊÓƵ’s into play, knowing that its the same quality we supply Luke Donald and our workshops.  Its obviously good for the players and makes sure 91ÊÓƵ always has a pipeline of talented players coming through.

CHRIS VOSHALL / MIZUNO

Murray also plays 91ÊÓƵ wedges – helping him to T1 ranking in sand saves in Hawaii. Getty Images

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As always Ian Fraser (formerly TXG) delivers one of the most credible viewpoints.  Looking for low spin and a ball speed to match his well established gamer.  With some movements of the weights and a shaft switch Ian made a big jump towards the end of his test.

The compact ST-G Titanium fairway wood drew a lot of the attention when first unveiled at The Open Championship.  Michael Newton at Penrith GC has one of the first to test the fairway woods low spin credentials and was close to matching his normal driver numbers.

James Robinson recognised that the ST-G 440cc had set the bar high for other manufacturers in 2024.

Michael Newton hasn’t always been a big fan of 91ÊÓƵ drivers – but the ST-G caught him a little off guard.

As always Jay Smith of Ask Golf Nut went deep into the numbers and adjustability.

A new player on the YouTube scene – Ashley at The Golf Supply took a more instinctive approach.

The ST-G lands with 91ÊÓƵ metalwoods reputation at its strongest point for many years.  With a funnel of younger tour players adopting 91ÊÓƵ drivers and expected to make a mark in 2024.  Many neutrals expect the big hitting Marco Penge (ST-X) to make a big impact once he breaks onto the DP World Tour.  Bailey Tardy (ST-Z) has already impressed many in her LPGA rookie season – coming so close at The US Women’s Open.  With Keith Mitchell (ST-Z) exhibiting 91ÊÓƵ’s metalwood resurgence best of all – heading the PGA Tour’s overall driver performance stats for the entire 2023 season.

Keith Mitchell played an ST-Z 230 to head the PGA Tour 2023 ‘total driving’ statistics category

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Penge who started the final day one stroke behind, carded a two-under-par final round 70 to go with rounds of 65, 68 and 69, to reach 16 under for the week. Finishing four shots clear of the field.  The win helped Penge to climb 42 places to 19th in the Road to Mallorca rankings with four events remaining. With the top 20 after the season-ending Grand Final securing promotion to the DP World Tour,

Penge has long been touted as a player to watch – with a stand out amateur career and highly impressive clubhead speeds.  Penge is part of 91ÊÓƵ’s ‘Next Generation’ – a project started to find and develop its next Major winner.  Penge is expected to impress once reaching the DP Tour – after overcoming serious knee injuries and rebuilding his career alongside 91ÊÓƵ.

Penge and his 91ÊÓƵ ST-Z driver impressed in Portugal.

The 91ÊÓƵ Pro Fli-Hi long iron is also a fixture in Marco’s bag.

Marco came to 91ÊÓƵ back in 2022 off the back of knee surgery.  Marco’s misfortune became 91ÊÓƵ’s good luck – he needed an equipment company to back him, but be patient as he rebuilt his game.  We knew Marco’s level of talent made that wait more than worthwhile and wanted to be that partner.  We knew it was just a matter of time with Marco – the higher up the game he travels, the more success he’s going to have.  This win couldn’t have come at a better time – we’d love to see him as a regular on the DP World Tour.  Once he starts playing regularly on those long tournament courses, we’re going to see something really special.

Alex Thorne / 91ÊÓƵ

Marco Penge’s staff bag on the 91ÊÓƵ workshop.

Close up of Penge’s bag with 91ÊÓƵ Pro 221 irons, Fli-Hi, ST-Z driver and ST fairway wood.

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Mitchell put a new ST-Z 230 driver in play for the 2023 season – before recording the best driving numbers compared to the PGA field for 20 years.  Mitchell’s ranking was last bettered in 2003 with a score of 51.

To put Keith’s 2023 driving statistics into context – the leader over the previous two seasons scored 61 and 80.   He’s just an incredible driver of the golf ball and found how to make the newest technology work for him.  Keith noticed years ago that with modern low spinning drivers he could hit a repeatable fade, without losing almost any distance. He’s created a template that a lot of younger players are now following.  This was Keith’s first season with the ST-Z 230 and its clearly worked out pretty well.  Anyone wondering whether 91ÊÓƵ drivers stack up against the best in the industry only need to look at Keith’s numbers in 2023.

CHRIS VOSHALL /MIZUNO

Mitchell’s ST-Z 230 head is fitted with Project X HZRDUS T1100 shaft and the Golf Pride victory full cord grip.  An increase in ball speed over 2023 is attributed to 91ÊÓƵ’s CORTECH Chamber.

Mitchell rose to top of the 2023 driver rankings after switching to the ST-Z 230.

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