Riviera Country Club is presenting a unique challenge to golfers this week, and it’s not just the demanding course layout. The combination of Kikuyu grass and recent heavy rainfall is forcing players and their equipment technicians to make subtle but significant adjustments, particularly with wedge selection, and technique. The situation highlights the increasingly granular level of detail that defines modern professional golf.
Kikuyu grass, a stiff and hearty strain found on the fairways, approaches, and rough at Riviera, differs from the more common turf grasses used on the PGA Tour. Unlike grasses that grow straight up, Kikuyu crosses and weaves, creating a unique surface that impacts how a golf ball sits and interacts with the clubface. When tightly mown, it nearly makes the ball sit up like it’s on a tee, but the added moisture from recent rains complicates matters.
“Kikuyu grass and a little bit of added moisture can make golf really tricky,” explained Vokey Tour rep Aaron Dill. “You’re not only adding this water in this poor weather that will influence spin, but you’re also moving strikes around the face because of that added moisture.” The concern is that the added moisture and the way the grass cradles the ball can lead to strikes higher on the clubface, resulting in less spin and a higher launch angle – precisely what players don’t want when approaching the green.
Vokey’s tour representatives have been busy working with players to determine the optimal wedge setup for these conditions. The typical approach on the PGA Tour favors narrow-soled, low-bounce wedges (T- and L-grinds) on tighter lies. However, the softer conditions at Riviera are prompting some players to consider wider-soled wedges to help maintain a consistent strike pattern. Marco Penge was the only player to switch his lob wedge this week, moving from a .04T-grind to a wider K*-grind.
The adjustments are often subtle, focusing on sole width and bounce rather than drastic changes to loft or lie angle. “If you have a player who has typically used thinner soles, you generally want to gravitate more towards that unless you start to see height becoming an issue,” said Vokey Tour rep Shane Dyel. “But if we add bounce and the ball starts coming out a little bit flatter and hotter, and we need to produce a higher, softer launch, but with the same spin, that’s when we might start looking at a wider sole.”
Beyond wedges, equipment changes continue to be a theme on the PGA Tour. The shift away from traditional blade putters continues, with Maverick McNealy becoming the latest player to adopt a mallet, specifically a TaylorMade Spider Tour X. McNealy had used Toulon blades throughout his career, including a model he’d had since his time at Stanford. This trend leaves only four players in the top 25 of the Official World Golf Ranking (Hideki Matsuyama, Alex Noren, Patrick Reed, and Ludvig Aberg) still using blade putters.
Ludvig Aberg, one of the remaining blade users, revealed he’s been experimenting with putters that promote more forward roll. He recently switched to an Odyssey Ai-ONE No. 1 putter head with less loft, and was even spotted testing a Scotty Cameron prototype mallet this week. Aberg’s preference for a blade, however, seems rooted in familiarity. “It’s all I’ve ever known,” he stated.
Rory McIlroy’s equipment evolution, which began in 2025, continues to pay dividends. His switch to a softer TaylorMade TP5 ball earlier in the season, coupled with new MG5 wedges and the trusty TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter, has contributed to a significant increase in his earnings. His prize money jumped from $10,893,790 in 2024 to $16,992,418 in 2025, not including his Irish Open win.
The influence of equipment choices extends to the most elite players. Even Tiger Woods, hosting the Genesis Invitational, was observed discussing putter grips with Collin Morikawa. Woods, known for his precise feel and control, engaged Morikawa about the benefits of his flow neck Spider Tour X and the grip’s impact on releasing the putter head through impact. Woods emphasized the importance of maintaining an active right-hand release, a key element of his own putting stroke.
Morikawa’s switch to a Golf Pride Tour Tradition grip, a more traditional slim pistol grip, caught Woods’ attention. Woods, who historically favored slim grips, acknowledged the benefits of Morikawa’s setup, noting that it allowed for a more natural release.
The week at Riviera also saw several players making adjustments to their drivers and fairway woods. Wyndham Clark switched to a TaylorMade Qi4D 10.5 driver with a Project X Titan 70 TX shaft, marking his fourth driver change of the season. Max Homa moved to a Cobra OPTM X driver with a lighter Fujikura Ventus Blue+ 6-X shaft. Other players, including Jhonattan Vegas and Tommy Fleetwood, also made changes to their fairway wood setups.
These subtle tweaks and adjustments, driven by course conditions, player preferences, and the relentless pursuit of marginal gains, underscore the increasingly sophisticated nature of professional golf. The story at Riviera isn’t just about who shoots the lowest score, but also about the intricate dance between player, equipment, and the ever-changing demands of the course.
