Almost all of the top iron players on the PGA Tour had a split set.
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
It’s extraordinarily clear that even the best players on the PGA Tour are looking for added forgiveness with their irons and specifically their long irons.
It seems that has never been more evident than this season when you look at the top-10 players in the PGA Tour’s Strokes Gained: Approach rankings.
Of the 10 players, just two players, Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood, play just one model in their iron sets. Every other player uses some sort of combination or blended set with a more compact chassis in the scoring irons and a larger, more forgiving model in the long irons.
Fleetwood could also be ruled as an exception since, for most of the season, he’s used a 9-wood in place of a 4-iron and when he does have a 4-iron, it’s usually TaylorMade’s P770 hollow-bodied iron.
Playing a 4-iron in the same model as the rest of a player’s set of irons is almost extinct on the PGA Tour these days. Hovland is the only player on this list who did that this season, and he plays a full set of Ping’s i210 irons, which are on the more forgiving side of irons played on the PGA Tour anyway.
Now players will go to larger and more forgiving long irons as a means of making it easier to hit their ball speed gaps. It’s not so much that they don’t hit the smaller long irons as well, but they may not hit them fast enough to justify proper iron gapping.
The bonus is the forgiveness that ensures they not only hit their ball speed numbers more easily, but also more often.
The other thing to notice on this list is the dominance of both TaylorMade and Srixon irons. Of course, the World’s No. 1 player, Scottie Scheffler, plays both TaylorMade P7TW irons and Srixon ZU85 long irons, checking all three trend boxes here. No wonder he gained 36 more shots on approach than anyone else this season.
Keep reading below for the list of the top-10 players last season on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green and what irons they used.
2025 PGA Tour Strokes Gained: Approach the Green leaders and what irons they play
If a player switched during the PGA Tour season, the most recent set is listed.
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Hybrid Prototype 10 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100Â
TaylorMade P7TW Custom Irons
MILLED GRIND SOLE DEBUT
Milled Grind eliminates variances in sole geometry from head to head and ensures precision in every iron set, while the CNC machined sole geometry and a precise leading edge promote consistent turf interaction.
TIGER’S FINGERPRINT
Each iron has been meticulously shaped to meet Tiger’s discerning eye—longer blade length, thinner topline, progressive face height, and more.
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Viktor Hovland at the Ryder CupDavid Cannon/Getty Images
Shafts: KBS Tour-V 120-X
PING i240 Custom Irons
The Tour-inspired i240 advances our popular Players technology, providing added forgiveness along with the control, look and feel that will appeal to a wide range of skill levels. It’s PING’s highest-launching Players model, giving golfers more control and the ability to consistently hit their distance numbers and stop the ball close to the hole.
A new ABS badge in the true cavity-back design is 8.5g lighter, and combined with an elastomer insert allows for more perimeter weighting to increase the MOI in the mid and long irons. This helps achieve an 11% reduction in dispersion. The badge and insert contribute to a more desirable sound and a softer, responsive feel from the 431 stainless steel cast head.
Collin Morikawa’s irons at the Zurich Classic.Jack Hirsh/GOLF
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
TaylorMade P7CB Custom Irons
BEST-IN CLASS FEEL
Using Tour feedback and modal analysis we’ve strategically designed mass placement for best in class feel. Crafted using Compact Grain Forging and 2000 tons of pressure to deliver the purest feeling 1025 soft carbon steel possible.
PRECISE CONTROL
Precise milled face and grooves combined with a constant CG the P•7CB is designed to deliver an optimal launch and spin combination for the ultimate control and precision.
CONSISTENCY
Created to maximize accuracy and consistency. The P•7CB optimized perimeter weighting and co-forged tungsten designed to deliver a beautiful blend of stability and workability.
COMPACT TOUR SHAPING
Every aspect of shaping in this iron was intended to meet the needs of discerning ball strikers. A compact blade length and thin topline create a confident, clean look in the playing position while the sole camber and progressive bounce profile provide consistent turf interaction.
T8. Henrik Norlander (.667) – PXG 0317T (4), 0317ST (5-PW)
PXG 0317 T Custom Irons
Meet the ultimate tour performance players iron. PXG 0317 T Irons are built for highly skilled golfers craving workability with a boost of forgiveness. With a hollow-bodied design and stabilizing S COR™ polymer core, these irons increase spin performance, improve distance control and overall consistency. The compact head shape has a slightly larger profile for enhanced MOI and mishit forgiveness.Â
XTREME SHOT MAKING
Small workable club head design increases the player’s control over the clubface.
HIGH SPIN PERFORMANCE
Proprietary S COR™ material increases stability and limits face movement during impact which produces higher spin rate performance.
SUPERIOR DISTANCE CONTROL
Thin face hollow bodied construction delivers very consistent distance control for highly skilled players.
EXCELLENT SOUND AND FEEL
3X Forged 8620 soft carbon steel
Distance never looked this pure. T250 Irons give golfers the ultimate combination of raw speed, stability, and consistency with an ultra-clean design that players love. It’s a merger of form and function, crafted for powerful performance while satisfying the eye of the most discerning golfers.  Â
Singular DesignÂ
High-strength steel construction allows powerful performance technologies to be discreetly housed within a sleek, modern design.Â
Elevated SpeedÂ
A new forged L-Face Design heightens ball speed and launch for astounding distance across the face.Â
Enhanced Consistency
Improved Max Impact Technology and a progressive groove design promote consistent carry, spin, and dispersion from any lie.Â
High Flight & StabilityÂ
Split high-density tungsten produces optimal CG with high stability for more forgiving shotmaking.Â
Launch Spec Configuration
A brand-new addition to the T-Series lineup, T250 Launch Spec provides the same technology and features the same construction as T250 but with a lighter headweight and added loft, promoting effortless launch, increased carry distance for low-flight players and more stopping power into the greens.
Jack Hirsh is the Associate Equipment Editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.
