For two of the greatest players of their respective eras, Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler, the choice of driver has both defined and complemented their styles. While Tiger’s career spanned multiple decades of equipment evolution, Scheffler’s dominance has coincided with the modern era of high-tech, tour-ready drivers. Comparing their driver choices offers a fascinating lens into how equipment and performance intersect at the highest levels of the game.
Woods’ long and storied career saw him win a record-tying 82 PGA Tour titles using a variety of drivers across four manufacturers. Scheffler, by contrast, has risen to World No. 1 in an era dominated by refined carbon heads, adjustable systems, and proprietary shaft technology. Both approaches led to tremendous success, but the paths they took off the tee tell very different stories about generational changes in golf equipment and performance.
The Evolution of Tiger Woods’ Drivers
Woods has never been cavalier about his equipment, yet even he adapted to the changing technology landscape as his career progressed. According to a comprehensive equipment history, Tiger used 12 different drivers to amass his PGA Tour victories, spanning Cobra, Titleist, Nike, and TaylorMade brands.
Early in his career, Tiger relied on Cobra King Cobra Deep Face drivers and Titleist 975D models with lofts as low as 7.5 degrees–gear that prioritized workability and control, allowing him to shape shots like few others. As Woods’ dominance expanded into the 2000s, he famously switched to Nike drivers, which he used to win both the Masters and U.S. Open in 2002.
In later years, as technology advanced, Woods also utilized models like TaylorMade’s M3 and M5 drivers, though these appeared more sporadically compared to his earlier gear. Even as Woods aged and dealt with injuries, his driver choices reflected an ongoing balance between power and precision, prioritizing consistency and control off the tee over raw distance.
For much of his career, Woods’ driver setups featured relatively low lofts and traditional steel-shafted designs (such as the True Temper Dynamic Gold X100), which suited his aggressive swing style. This emphasis on driver control and versatility was part and parcel of his all-around dominance on all kinds of courses.
What stands out about Woods’ driver history compared to modern players is sheer diversity. Over three decades, he adapted to equipment shifts and innovations while tailoring his gear to specific playing conditions and personal performance needs–a testament to both his technical understanding and his determination to win under evolving technological paradigms.
Scottie Scheffler’s Modern Driver Setup
In contrast to Woods’ long span of diverse driver models, Scheffler’s driver usage reflects the relative stability and technological precision of the modern era. Scheffler’s equipment journey included a period where he used TaylorMade’s Qi10 driver, with an 8-degree head and Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X shaft, a setup that helped deliver his powerful, consistent ball-striking in events like the 2025 CJ Cup at Craig Ranch.
Earlier in his ascent, he leaned on the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver, a model noted for its lightweight carbon fiber face and high forgiveness that allowed him to maximize distance while maintaining control. These choices align with a trend among modern pros toward forgiving yet fast driver heads matched with premium shafts that emphasize stability and consistent launch conditions.
Into late 2025, Scheffler began experimenting with the TaylorMade Qi4D driver, a newer prototype that also featured in competitor setups like Rory McIlroy’s equipment group and stood out for its unique face design and potential for high ball speed. Scheffler’s version of the Qi4D had a face more similar to his prior Qi10 setup, suggesting a careful balance between innovation and familiarity as he tests new gear.
“[Scottie] plays low loft at 7.5 degrees,” Adrian Rietveld, TaylorMade tour rep, said. “This face gives him the impression that there is more loft than there actually is. It’s more contrast for him personally, and he has just grown comfortable with the blue.”
According to Golf Digest, “Scheffler started to notice how colors changed the amount of visual loft he was seeing at address during testing with the red face found on the Stealth 2. When he moved to Qi10, he found the blue face achieved the same visual and didn’t look out of place alongside the understated Qi10 cosmetics.”
Scheffler’s driver evolution is very much tied to optimization rather than overhaul, trusting core components like high-tech carbon faces and Fujikura Ventus shafts known for their performance on the 2025 PGA Tour season. In fact, Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X shafts were used in all six of Scheffler’s PGA Tour wins this year.
Comparing Eras: Technology, Consistency, and Performance
Tiger’s career spanned a period where manufacturers were constantly introducing new materials, head designs, and shaft combinations, and players often adapted more frequently. His use of 12 distinct drivers, including models across multiple manufacturers, reflects that era’s experimentation and customization progression.
Scheffler, playing in an age where driver technology has plateaued in terms of revolutionary gains and emphasizes refinement, has shown remarkable consistency. By sticking with proven TaylorMade drivers and top-tier shafts, he epitomizes modern equipment confidence, where incremental gains in aerodynamics and face composition drive performance.
Both approaches have delivered success: Tiger’s diversity accompanied a legendary career defined by adaptability and ruthless competitiveness, while Scheffler’s targeted technology usage has helped him dominate a crowded field in the contemporary game.
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