Sports
Inside the driver setups powering two Phoenix Open contenders
Both Si Woo Kim and Nicolai Hojgaard are putting on a clinic with their Callaway drivers in very different ways this week.
The pair head into the final round at the WM Phoenix Open tied for second at 12 under par, a shot behind Hideki Matsuyama and are third and fourth this week in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee.
Kim is doing it while leading the field in driving accuracy with over 80 percent of his fairways hit, while Hojgaard is doing it with a blend of distance (T22, 320 yards) and accuracy (T12, 67%). The different ways they play require vastly different driver setups, but the common denominator is that both players recently switched to different versions of Callaway’s new Quantum Triple Diamond platform.
Keep reading below for a more detailed dive into their setups.
Si Woo Kim
As we wrote two weeks ago in the Tour Report, Kim finally gave up his Paradym Ai-Smoke Triple Diamond driver that he had held onto for the last two seasons.
“It was almost plug and play,” Callaway Tour Content Manager Thompson said. “I mean, there really wasn’t a ton of work that was done with Si Woo. He hit a few shots, and he was like, ‘This thing’s awesome,’ and literally that was it.”
Kim isn’t one of the faster players on Tour, so he’ll take any meaningful speed gains he can get. He also lives on the higher end of the spin threshold, which makes killing spin just as much as a priority.
That’s why you see him play the more compact Triple Diamond model as opposed to the Triple Diamond Max.
The start line was also important for getting Kim to switch from his Ai Smoke, which is why you’ll see below in his specs he keeps the back weight on the heel side of the club to encourage a left start line.
With the new driver, Callaway Tour Rep Kellen Watson said Kim added about 2 mph of ball speed and cut his spin delta to just 400 rpms. They wanted to switch at the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic last fall, but the driver wasn’t on the conforming list yet.
“he loved that we went back to AI Smoke topline and crown and loved the look at address and the sound,” Watson told GOLF. “Easily one of my favorite player/caddie combos. The toughest job is to have him not play the new thing yet, but the numbers let us know that it was a no-brainer.”
Si Woo Kim’s Quantum Triple Diamond Specs:
Head: Quantum Triple Diamond 9.0
Actual loft: 8.9˚
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black+ 6-X
Length: 44 15/16″ EOG
Tipping: 1″
Optifit: N/S
Weights: Neutral Weight (Heel)
Swingweight: D3.4
Grip: Golf Pride MCC ND Blackout 58R
Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Custom Driver
View Product
ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway
Nicolai Hojgaard
Hojgaard, meanwhile, is in the upper echelon of speed on the PGA Tour, already ranking second in ball speed this season after finishing third in driving distance a year ago.
His switch to the Quantum Triple Diamond Max driver took a little more time, but he made the move this week and it’s paying off.
With all of his speed, Hojgaard plays with more stability and spin (high 2000s) than you might imagine. He uses a high-lofted Triple Diamond Max, which is the more stable of the two Triple Diamond platforms, with a Fujikura Ventus TR Blak that is just over 45″.
“While this could be more efficient from a distance perspective, this higher spin setup gives him ultimate control,” said Callaway Tour Rep Zach Smith. “He still cruising near 190 ball speed with the triforce tech, so he’s not really giving anything up versus the field.
“Nico has one of the most efficient deliveries on tour, and has lower spin loft through the bag, making him always on the low end of spin so we’re always working to increase his ability to control the ball.”
He also plays the Chrome Tour X+ golf ball, which is a spinnier version of the Chrome Tour X, which, coupled with the higher lofted driver, gives him a nice combination for control.
Nicolai Hojgaard’s Quantum Triple Diamond Specs:
Head: Quantum Triple Diamond Max 10.5
Actual loft: 11.2˚
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6-X
Length: 45 1/8″ EOG
Weights: 3 g front/ 9 g back toe / 6 g back heel
Swingweight: D2.3
Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Max Custom Driver
View Product
ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Callaway
The author welcomes your comments at Jack.Hirsh@golf.com.
Want to find the best driver for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
“>