Scottie Scheffler raised loads of eyebrows forward of the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill when revealing that he’d put a brand new driver within the bag.
After two trophy-laden seasons utilizing the TaylorMade Qi10, Scheffler switched to TaylorMade’s new Qi4D driver at Arnie’s occasion in Florida.
It’s been a preferred change among the many firm’s different elite gamers with Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Collin Morikawa all adopting the Qi4D.
So, from that perspective, it wasn’t a shock to see Scheffler observe swimsuit.
Whereas the transfer was extensively reported, little has been mentioned on how Scheffler truly carried out with the brand new massive stick.
He did give a heads up after his first-round 70 at Bay Hill although.
“I really feel like what we have now seen is extra constant spin numbers. So that can assist it’s a little bit bit extra correct off the tee,” he mentioned.
“Directionally, I struggled a little bit bit with it in the beginning of the yr, however I acquired to what I assumed was a extremely great spot final week, and I appreciated what I noticed at this time.”
However what did the numbers say?
Strokes Gained: Off The Tee is the main measure of driver prowess and that is how Scheffler ranked every day and over the entire match.
Spherical 1: 70 – Off The Tee Rank: 18thRound 2: 71 – Off The Tee Rank: 8thRound 3: 72 – Off The Tee Rank: 33rdRound 4: 73 – Off The Tee Rank: thirty third
General end: twenty seventh – Off The Tee Rank: nineteenth
In abstract, his driving was robust pre-cut however fell again considerably on the weekend.
So how does that evaluate to his season-long rating and his OTT stats for the earlier two campaigns?
2026: Off The Tee Rank: 2nd2025: Off The Tee Rank: 2nd2024: Off The Tee Rank: 2nd
Scheffler is likely one of the world’s best possible drivers and earlier than the swap he ranked 2nd for Off The Tee, simply as he had accomplished the earlier two years.
That nineteenth place rating saved him second though pulled his common strokes gained numbers down a fraction.
Right here’s what he mentioned himself after ending his week in twenty fourth spot – 13 pictures behind the winner.
Requested particularly about his new driver, the World No.1 responded: “Yeah, I really feel like I noticed some good issues out of it. We’ll see sort of going ahead the place I’ll be at. However total, I positively noticed some good issues from it this week.”
However when summarising his final-round 73, Scheffler additionally added: “I want I might have drove it a little bit higher.”
The numbers and his quotes are hardly a ringing endorsement and will replicate some uncertainty.
However, paradoxically, that uncertainty must be targeted on his iron play.
Scheffler has ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Strategy in every of the final three seasons. For the final two he was a mile clear in that class.
This season Scheffler is method down in 88th for Strategy.
In consequence, his unimaginable run of prime 10s which had lasted virtually a full yr has ended through finishes of twelfth on the Genesis and twenty fourth at Bay Hill in his final two begins.
Scheffler, it seems, is looking for one thing and maybe the driving force swap is symptomatic of that.
However, on the proof to date, the driving force isn’t the issue. Don’t be stunned if he switches again.
Learn subsequent: Why McIlroy, Scheffler and DeChambeau use such low-loft drivers
