Not all pro golfers are getting paid to use the clubs they game in competition.
Some might be gear free agents with a mixed bag. Some might have a primary club deal that allows for flexibility to add in other brands. Everyone’s situation is different.
But when you see a certain brand pop up in the bags of top players—guys who aren’t under contract with that brand—you definitely take notice.
Cleveland/Srixon is a great example of this. They consistently sneak into the bags of top players even though these guys aren’t staffers with them.
The brand, of course, has full-time staffers like Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Hideki Matsuyama, Keegan Bradley, Sepp Straka and Ryan Fox—but there are also some notable non-staffers who rely on Cleveland/Srixon for key clubs throughout their bag.
Here are five of the top players in that category who caught our eye.
Scottie Scheffler
The world’s top-ranked player has held onto his Srixon ZU85 (3 or 4) utility iron throughout his dominant run the past few years.
Considering that the ZU85 was released in 2018 and Scheffler put it in the bag a year later, that is quite impressive. Not many players hold onto a club for seven years.
While Scheffler has occasionally swapped in a 7-wood—as he did at last year’s PGA Championship—the ZU85 has a more penetrating flight compared to a higher-lofted wood while still being a more forgiving long-iron option compared to the rest of his irons.
It’s a delicate balance but you can’t argue with the results. Scheffler ranked No. 6 on the PGA Tour for approach proximity from 225-250 yards.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler’s bag recently went through a total makeover as he decided to change nearly every club in the bag heading into 2026.
One club that stayed the same was his 60-degree Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack Proto lob wedge.
A fascinating part of Fowler’s wedge setup is that he plays three different models of wedge and all of them feature pronounced offset. His 54- and 58-degree wedges are bent two degrees strong to add to the offset.
His custom Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack Proto is not bent but was built with more offset than your standard lob wedge. Fowler also employs low bounce (six degrees) which is for golfers who have shallower swings. The low bounce tends to be particularly effective off tight lies.
Dustin Johnson
Despite being a non-contracted player, D.J. uses a full three-club set of Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack wedges. They were an addition to his bag last year.
Johnson goes with a 50-, 54- and 58-degree wedge setup. He has 10 degrees of bounce on the 50- and 54-degree wedge and 10 degrees of bounce on the 58-degree wedge.
These wedges are unplated, raw, tour-level wedges featuring “Z-Alloy” for a softer feel and more durability. They feature enhanced ZipCore for stability, HydraZip for wet-weather spin and UltiZip grooves. The “Tour Rack” designates customizable raw finishes and grinds, allowing for custom sole grinds, stamping and paint fill.
Patrick Cantlay
Similar to Scheffler, Cantlay has employed a Srixon long iron for years.
Cantlay has been using a Srixon ZX5 Mk II 4-iron since 2023, shortly after the club was released.
The premium forged player’s distance iron is designed to blend distance, forgiveness and a compact look. It features a forged 1020 carbon steel body, AI-designed variable-thickness face and high-density tungsten in the toe for stability. A wider sole and progressive grooves are key for consistent distance and spin.
Matt Kuchar
A mainstay on the Tour for more than two decades, Kuchar trusts Srixon ZX7 MK II series irons.
Despite being nearly 48 years old, Kuchar still has a place in the top 100 of the Data Golf rankings because of his accuracy and approach game.
This set is a forged player’s iron featuring a compact shape, narrow sole and 1020 carbon steel. Key features include PureFrame for reduced vibration and Tour V.T. Soles for improved turf interaction, designed for low- to mid-handicap golfers seeking control.
Other non-staffers gaming Srixon/Cleveland
Francesco Molinari, Rico Hoey, Taylor Montgomery and Camilo Villegas are among the other non-staffers who have a Cleveland/Srixon club in the bag.
Srixon is also the No. 1 iron on the PGA Tour Champions.
While there are many examples of non-staffers playing other brands, we definitely have taken notice of Cleveland/Srixon clubs consistently finding their way into the bag of guys who don’t get a dime to play those clubs.
Top Photo Caption: Scottie Scheffler uses his Srixon ZU85 4-iron during the final round of the 2025 Open Championship. (GETTY IMAGES/Christian Peterson)
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