Masters 2023: Top 5 Gear Trends, From Mini Drivers to Brand Firsts

Golf’s elite return to Augusta National for The Masters. The tournament remains one of the sport’s most prestigious events. Winning the Green Jacket is the ultimate prize in Georgia.

Course setup and equipment focus

Augusta’s layout rewards a right-to-left ball flight. That setup shapes club choices and shot strategy. Brands also launch special-edition gear around the event.

Mini drivers and 9-woods

Tommy Fleetwood has reintroduced a 9-wood into his bag. He also regularly uses a mini driver in the top of his set. Fleetwood sees the 9-wood as useful on par fives and the long fourth hole.

Others have followed suit. Justin Rose trialed a Callaway Quantum mini driver while preparing at The Players Championship. Max Homa added a Cobra King Tec mini driver to help shape a right-to-left shot.

More players experimenting

Bryson DeChambeau continued equipment testing ahead of Augusta. He trialed Bettinardi wedges in South Africa. He also mentioned work on irons and a custom driver.

One curious tweak was lead tape applied to the crown of a fairway wood. This unusual placement likely aimed to alter face behavior at impact.

Titleist’s Augusta debut and driver adoption

Titleist produced Augusta-themed headcovers for the event. Staffer Michael Kim highlighted the headcovers on social media. Johnny Keefer used them during a practice round.

The headcovers use the Green Jacket color with gold trim and pink lining. Meanwhile, Titleist’s new GTS drivers are appearing more often. Robert MacIntyre used a GTS2 at the Valero Texas Open. Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson tested the driver during practice.

Shoes and a Seve tribute

Masters-themed golf shoes paid tribute to Seve Ballesteros. Ballesteros joined Nike in 1985 and famously altered apparel at the 1986 Masters. Designers echoed that creativity on modern footwear.

Players spotted wearing the tribute shoes included Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Si Woo Kim, and Chris Gotterup.

What it all means

The gear patterns show a clear trend toward creativity and course-specific setups. Players are fine-tuning bags with mini drivers, specialty woods, and custom tweaks. These moves reflect topics highlighted by Masters 2023 and the Top 5 gear trends, such as mini drivers and brand firsts.

For ongoing equipment coverage and event analysis, Filmogaz.com will continue monitoring gear choices at Augusta National.