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Who will win the Vuelta? Tadej Pogacar’s crash leaves a golden opportunity – and a huge pressure
As Tadej Pogacar gingerly stepped into the waiting ambulance, a funereal hush descended on the peloton. His teammmates rolled forlornly over the finish line together like soldiers mourning a fallen commander; new race leader Enric Mas refused to don the red jersey out of respect for the patron.
But cycling waits for no-one and by the next day the general classification battle ignited in earnest. Stage nine’s full-throttle racing between the top names set the tone for how this Vuelta a Espana will play out, with four men poised to capitalise on Pogacar’s untimely exit.
Pogacar’s crash made a mockery of the many, many confident declarations of his victory (including this writer’s), so predicting who will now win the most open grand tour in years feels something of a fool’s errand. But here goes: barring a miraculous late comeback from someone further down the standings, one of Mas, Primoz Roglic, Felix Gall or Oscar Onley will be wearing red in two weeks’ time. (It goes without saying that that is depending on all of them avoiding Pogacar’s misfortune, too.)
As of the first rest day Mas sits 1’18” ahead of four-time champion Roglic, with Gall a further 21 seconds back. In provisional fourth sits Britain’s Onley, 2’20” behind Mas and 41 seconds behind Gall.
Of the quartet, Roglic is the only one with the experience of winning a grand tour; having won in Spain a record-equalling four times, he is at home here and his guile and race-craft will be a huge advantage. In the Slovenian’s ‘cons’ column: he is 36, five years older than Mas, and certainly not in peak Rogla form.
Mas is in unknown territory; this is the first time he has ever worn the leader’s jersey at a grand tour. As a Spaniard riding for a Spanish team, and having just secured Movistar’s first stage win at the Vuelta in five years, the pressure on his shoulders is huge. With three previous second-placed finishes on his palmares, he wants this the most – but with that comes the danger of taking too much risk to achieve it.
He played his cards brilliantly on stage nine, powering away with Onley for company in the last 3km and holding off the Scot for victory. “Now I understand Tadej – the jersey gives you wings,” the 31-year-old said afterwards. “This morning I was as excited as a little boy.” He will have to keep that excitement in check in order to change the narrative surrounding him; Mas is a perennial top-10 finisher at grand tours but has always cracked at some point.
Onley may be the biggest unknown: at 23 he is comparatively inexperienced, with this just his third grand tour and first as Netcompany-Ineos’ leader. He rode an astonishingly mature race to finish fourth at the Tour de France last year, playing a patient game, and has picked and chosen his moments so far this Vuelta, sticking with Mas on stage nine but unable to overhaul him in the sprint. He was fourth on stage four despite having been, in his words, “up all night on the toilet”; now he seems to have recovered from that complaint he is hugely dangerous on the toughest terrain.
Gall has the strongest team in the race on paper and is an excellent climber in incredible form. His Decathlon CMA CGM squad showed the most willingness to take the fight to Pogacar and are likely to try to control the majority of this race – albeit with many eyebrows raised at their strategy and propensity to burn their matches, seemingly with no gain. Lidl-Trek’s assistant sports director Maxime Monfort rather summed it up after stage eight: “Decathlon… sometimes they do some strange things.”
With no outfit as strong as UAE Team Emirates XRG, this race is going to be difficult to control in the model we have become used to since the ‘Sky train’ years, leaving the destiny of the red jersey to be decided most likely on moments of individual brilliance or collapse. There is plenty of road left for both. The first challenge is how the riders will manage the blistering heat of Andalusia, with even Pogacar caught out without adequate fuel late on stage six, in slightly more temperate climes.
There are four major summit finishes to come: stage 12 will take the riders 2,000m above sea level, another challenge to go with the punishing gradients; stage 14 is another mountainous test before three back-to-back stages to decide the race.
Stage 18’s individual time trial will have been circled by each of the main four; Mas and Gall will need to take time out of Roglic on every summit finish to compensate for how comprehensively the Slovenian will beat them against the clock. That’s followed by two more gruelling, long mountain stages, with stage 20 taking in three category-one climbs. Stage 21’s inaugural summit of the hors-categorie Collado del Alguacil could rip up the GC entirely, in the manner of Simon Yates’ long-range assault on the penultimate stage of the 2024 Giro.
As ever this is a climber’s Vuelta, but the TT will be hugely significant too. What may yet prove most significant of all is the psychological challenge that grand tour racing presents.
All four of these riders have a wholly unexpected chance to win the Vuelta, chances that looked more microscopic with every attack Pogacar put in. For Gall, Mas and Onley, success would make their careers; for Roglic, it would provide the sweetest of endings. Pogacar’s absence has blown the entire race up. Now it is a case of who can hold their nerve.
Arsenal’s new midfielder Bruno Guimaraes said he is excited about starting a new chapter at the club and wants to win trophies and make history with the Premier League side. According to Sky Sports, Arsenal signed Guimaraes from Newcastle in a Euro 75 million transfer last month. Speaking on JioHotstar, Guimaraes said his conversations with manager Mikel Arteta convinced him that Arsenal was the right place for a new challenge. “It feels amazing to join Arsenal. I’m grateful for this opportunity. When I first spoke to Mikel Arteta, I felt excited right away. I knew inside that I needed a new challenge, and Arsenal felt like the right place,” Guimaraes said.
The Brazil international said Arsenal’s history and vision were among the factors that attracted him to the club, adding that he wants to help the team achieve its ambitions.
“The club has a great history and a clear vision. I want to be part of that and help the team achieve big things. I’m looking forward to getting started and giving my best for the fans,” he added.
Guimaraes, who joined Arsenal from Newcastle United in August, said he believes the move has come at the right stage of his career. Arsenal officially announced his signing on a long-term contract on August 8.
“After playing in two FIFA World Cups, I feel this is the right time in my career for a new challenge. I want to win trophies and make history, and I believe I’m in the right place to do that,” he said, as quoted by JioHotstar.
The midfielder also highlighted the importance of squad depth with Arsenal facing a busy season across competitions.
“We have a lot of games this season, so every player in the squad will be important. I’m ready to give my best and help the team achieve great things. Hopefully, we can turn our dreams into reality,” Guimaraes said.
Meanwhile, Arsenal continued their perfect start to the 2026/27 Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park, with Bukayo Saka scoring the decisive goal in the second half.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Aethelwulf, under the confident guidance of star jockey Zac Lloyd, effortlessly conquered his rivals to win the Merrylands RSL Handicap (2000m).
The four-year-old stayer has now amassed four wins from five starts this season, each triumph secured by considerable margins. His campaign commenced with a maiden victory at Newcastle by over five lengths, followed by decisive wins of six-and-a-half lengths, six-and-a-half lengths, and two-and-a-quarter lengths in his subsequent races.
In reality, Aethelwulf’s winning margin at Rosehill could have been extended, but Lloyd chose not to push the stayer, who evidently had a clear advantage over the field.
Trainer Matthew Smith has indicated that a plausible progression for Aethelwulf this campaign involves moving from a Newcastle maiden to the Group 2 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 3.
“Aethelwulf may get there (The Metropolitan), we might go to the Newcastle Cup first,” Smith said. “If he gets through that then why not?”
Aethelwulf ($1.35 favourite) delivered a performance befitting an odds-on favourite, cruising to victory well ahead of Anthracite ($7.50). Kenmare Bay ($15) finished a length further back in third.
Lloyd, who has ridden Aethelwulf in his last three starts for three dominant wins, described the stayer as a “super exciting horse”.
“Aethelwulf is still very raw and will be a better horse in six to 12 months but he can’t be doing much better than he is now,” Lloyd said.
“He won easily and is a natural stayer. He pulls up very clean-winded, his breathing is very clear.”.
Aethelwulf’s impressive performance at Rosehill today has seen him firm into $6 equal favouritism for The Metropolitan, sharing the top spot with King Of The Sea, another highly-regarded stayer.
Smith commented that Aethelwulf’s rapid development this winter had been somewhat unexpected.
“We were hoping he would do that today but you never know,” Smith said.
“He’s a pretty unassuming horse at home, he’s a lazy trackworker but he’s switched on come raceday.
“It was good to see him step up in grade today and once he learns his craft he could be very good.
“I feel 2000m and beyond will be his trip as he has a massive stride, he has the biggest stride in my stable, but it’s a big, easy, loping stride, very economical.”
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‘Most shocking decision ever’: Shahid Afridi blasts Pakistan’s stunning Test shake-up | Cricket News
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to make wholesale changes to the Test squad and coaching staff midway through the England series, calling it the “most shocking decision ever” by a selection committee.Pakistan have dropped seven players and brought in seven replacements, including five uncapped players, ahead of the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston, starting September 9. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have also been removed from their roles.The sweeping changes came after Pakistan suffered heavy defeats in the opening two Tests, losing the first by an innings and 103 runs before England won the second by 194 runs at Lord’s.
Afridi questions logic behind Pakistan changes
Afridi questioned the timing and reasoning behind the dramatic overhaul in a strongly worded post on social media.“Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision!”, Afridi wrote.“Even the replacements make no sense – T20 players have been included for a Test match in England?“What is this thinking and approach? Why has the coach been axed after five Test matches?“This is the most shocking decision ever by a selection committee which includes so many experienced selectors.”Five of the seven players released — Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad — had featured in the series. Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar were sent home without playing a Test.Pakistan have brought in Test-capped batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal alongside Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah.
Misbah resignation adds to Pakistan turmoil
The upheaval has also triggered uncertainty within the PCB’s selection structure. Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq has offered his resignation from the national selection committee, according to Geo News and Cricinfo.Sources close to Misbah, quoted by Geo News, said he had informed the PCB of his decision and would serve a notice period before formally stepping down. Cricinfo reported that the PCB was yet to accept his resignation.According to the report, Misbah was apparently not consulted over the sweeping changes despite being part of the selection committee. He has also reportedly decided to step down as a batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.Despite the chaos, Pakistan are scheduled to meet King Charles at Clarence House this week in an engagement planned before the series began.On the field, Pakistan face the daunting task of avoiding a 3-0 series clean sweep at Edgbaston.
Bill Belichick picked up by far the biggest win of his career with the Tar Heels against TCU.
The Horned Frogs were sloppy, but the Tar Heels showed serious signs of growth.
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin reacts to the ACC opener between NC State and Virginia.
Did Beau Pribula show enough as a passer to keep the Cavaliers in the conference title hunt this year?
Indiana enters this season on a storybook run unlike any other that the sport has seen.
Jacob Goins of ‘Locked On Hoosiers’ joins to dive deeper on the Hoosiers this upcoming year and how they’re viewed.
00:00 Comparing coaching styles in wet weather
04:39 TCU vs North Carolina game analysis
08:07 Reflection on aging and football decisions
12:00 Virginia dominates from the start
15:13 Evaluating NC State’s season opener
19:57 Making and Crowdsourcing Picks
21:40 Discussing Aiden Fisher’s role
25:42 Indiana’s starting wide receiver
27:58 Oregon’s road game challenges
On Saturday night, Filip Hrgovic shook up the heavyweight division by halting Moses Itauma and getting his hands on the IBF heavyweight world title.
During the aftermath, ‘El Animal’ assessed how the youngster stacked up to his former opponents, one of which is reigning WBO titleholder, Daniel Dubois.
Dubois handed Hrgovic the solitary defeat of his career when they collided back in 2024, as the Zagreb-born operator was stopped on cuts in a clash for the IBF Interim title, which eventually caused Dubois to be elevated to full world champion.
Since then, Hrgovic has embarked on a mission against other British heavyweights and he scored a career-best upset victory over the much-fancied Itauma at the weekend, stretching his streak to four consecutive wins against British contenders and simultaneously becoming Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion.
Speaking to DAZN Boxing in a post-fight interview, Hrgovic put the 21-year-old Itauma above all previous opponents, including Dubois, as the ‘best that he has shared the ring with’.
“He is definitely the future. He is an amazing fighter, he is one of a kind, he is the best that I have been in the ring with, but he needs more experience.
“He gassed out, I felt the pace of the fight, I knew I was losing rounds but I knew that I had pace in my favour because he was gassing out. He needs more experience but he is one of a kind.”
Hrgovic is now expected to take on Cuba’s Frank Sanchez in a first defence of his world title, with the 34-year-old hopeful of soon headlining on home soil in Croatia, where he has not fought since 2019.
Hull City are continuing to have busy summer window and have now announced Ilyas Ansah as their 13th addition for the season.
The 21-year-old has joined from Union Berlin, in Germany, for an undisclosed fee and has signed a five-year contract, keeping him at Hull until mid-2031.
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After turning professional with Paderborn, Ansah joined Union Berlin last season, making 36 appearances and contributing five goals and one assist.
Last week, he featured for the German capital club in their opening German Cup match, providing an assist in Union Berlin’s emphatic win over Eintracht Braunschweig.
Argentina legend Lionel Messi announced his international retirement on Monday.
The 39-year-old, widely considered the greatest football player of all time, won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Argentina, bringing the title back to the country for the first time since 1986.
The 2026 World Cup, Messi’s last appearance in the world’s most well-known footballing competition, ended in disappointment for Argentina after defeat to Spain in the final.
Despite being past his prime, the Argentina captain was the second most prolific goalscorer of the 2026 World Cup with eight goals, only being edged out by France’s Kylian Mbappe with ten.
Messi is also second in the World Cup’s all-time goalscorer list, where he is one goal behind Mbappe, with both overtaking Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s 16 goals during the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Retirement comes at ‘right time’
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul,” Messi posted on his Instagram account, adding that he wrote his international retirement message two days after the World Cup final defeat to Spain.
“But I understand that it is the right time,” he added.
Messi said he “always gave everything, not just in the last few years,” and that he wanted to bring Argentina fans joy and make them “feel proud to be Argentine through football.”
“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — alongside my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of,” he wrote, before concluding with “Vamos, Argentina!”
“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — alongside my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of,” he added.
Miami contract until 2028
Messi is his country’s most capped player with 207 appearances, in which he scored 125 goals, another all-time record.
With Messi as captain, Argentina also won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024.
His club career will continue at current club Inter Miami, where he has a contract until the end of the 2028 MLS season, although he did voice “serious doubts” about continuing to play football for “much longer” following the death of his father Jorge in August.
The attacker moved to the US side in 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain and after a 15-year career with Spanish giants Barcelona, with whom he won the UEFA Champions League four times and the Spanish title ten times.
Messi wanted to stay at Barcelona, but the club could not afford to keep him due to financial restrictions. This resulted in his move to Qatar-backed PSG, where he spent two years winning two league titles before moving to Miami.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
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Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football after 207 appearances for Argentina. With 125 goals to his name, he is by far the top scorer in his national team’s history.
In the Premier League, Arsenal have rejoined the top of the table. In Spain, Barça put on a show and have regained the top spot. Bradley Barcola is now officially a Liverpool player. Finally, at the US Open, Arthur Fils was knocked out in the first round.
There are few who can currently relate to the feelings of Moses Itauma after his loss to Filip Hrgovic, but one man who went through a similar experience is heavyweight legend Wladimir Klitschko, and the Ukrainian superstar has now offered his thoughts on the fight.
The disparity in skill between Itauma and Hrgovic was there for all to see in the opening rounds of Saturday’s showdown at the O2 Arena, but at the half-way point, the difference in stamina and experience was even more clear – and it was in favour of the underdog.
As a result, an exhausted Itauma opened the door for ‘El Animal’, who graciously accepted the opportunity to become Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion and hand Itauma the first defeat of his career; bringing the show to a close in round nine.
Although, whilst the nature of the contest felt bizarre at such an elite level, Klitschko also knows how it feels to suffer a blow early into his career when he was knocked out by Lamon Brewster in 2004, in a challenge for the vacant WBO title.
Brewster famously stopped a suddenly-depleted Klitschko in round five of that scrap – despite being dominated throughout the first four rounds and dropped in the fourth – but Klitschko improved his stamina and went on to become one of the heavyweight division’s most formidable rulers.
On X, Klitschko told Itauma that ‘he can bounce back, big time, if he really wants it’, after congratulating former sparring partner, Hrgovic, on an iconic win.
My favorite principle in the /FACE methodology is ENDURANCE, and once again, ENDURANCE beats masterwork and talent, like in the fight last night, Hrgovic vs. Moses.
Congrats to my former sparring partner one and only @Filip_Hrgovic; you are the real champ!
I’ve been there where… pic.twitter.com/EUBcmRgQB3— Klitschko (@Klitschko) August 30, 2026
“My favourite principle in the /FACE methodology is ENDURANCE, and once again, ENDURANCE beats masterwork and talent, like in the fight last night, Hrgovic vs. Moses.
“Congrats to my former sparring partner one and only @Filip_Hrgovic; you are the real champ!
“I’ve been there where you’re now, you can bounce back big time, if you really want it #MosesItauma.”
Itauma has since released a statement following his shock defeat, after being given the all-clear from a precautionary post-fight hospital trip.
Make no mistake, 2026 was a driver year. That’s reflected in the bags of this year’s PGA Tour winners.
Callaway, Ping, Srixon, TaylorMade and Titleist all had drivers released this year win on the PGA Tour this season, with TaylorMade and Titleist’s 2026 models winning multiple times.
But in the end, for the third straight season, it was actually a driver released in 2024 that took the cake as the winningest driver of 2026.
With a whopping eight victories, three of them by Matt Fitzpatrick, Titleist’s GT3 was the winningest driver of 2026.
But that’s not to say the more updated crop of drivers couldn’t hold their own. Quite the contrary, in fact. The GT3’s successors, the GTS2 and GTS3, each got a pair of victories after being released this spring.
TaylorMade’s Qi4D family of drivers recorded eight victories, making it the winningest 2026 driver release this year. Srixon recorded a major championship victory with their still-to-be-released ZXi RKT line of drivers.
So what does this all mean? There are two real takeaways here.
The first is that the 2026 crop of drivers was truly impressive. From the GTS to the Qi4D to Quantum TD, all of these drivers earned high conversion rates for their respective OEMs and that showed up with a large share of victories this season.
The second is that Tour pros are a finicky bunch and usually, when something works, even if they can gain a tiny edge from something new, they’ll stick to what they trust. We saw this with Scottie Scheffler, as he used his 2024 Qi10 for most of the season until finally making the switch to the Qi4D in August, leading to two wins at the FedEx Cup.
There’s seeing performance gains on the practice tee and there’s actually trusting that performance under game-time pressure on the course. They are not the same.
With that, keep reading below for the list of the top 5 winningest driver models of the 2026 FedEx Cup season.
The winningest drivers during the 2026 FedEx Cup season
No. 1 Titleist GT3 (8 wins by 5 players)
;)
Jack Hirsh/GOLF and Titleist
Last season, the combined 10 wins by the GT3 and the GT2 drivers made it the winningest driver family on the PGA Tour. This season, even as its successor, the GTS lineup, was introduced, the GT lineup has continued winning.
This year, it was the GT3 doing the heavy lifting, racking up eight wins. Three of those came courtesy of Matt Fitzpatrick, and two more came from Cam Young, who interestingly used an 11-degree GT3 head for both wins this season. The other GT3 winners this year were J.J. Spaun, Michael Brennan and Ricky Castillo. Jackson Koivun also tossed in a GT win, using the GT2 for his debut victory at the 3M Open late this summer.
Given GTS’ quick success on Tour, picking up four wins since June, it’s likely GT’s run at the top is over, but given its popularity and the longevity of Titleist drivers on Tour — Russell Henley won with a six-year-old TSi3 driver this season — it’s probable we see them win again in 2027.
GT3 – Speed-Tuned Distance & Control GT3 offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization. With a speed-tuned design that allows you to precisely match performance to your most frequent contact location, you can make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping. For players with a relatively consistent impact location, GT3 offers a precisely adjustable CG Track to max out distance and directional control. Seamless Thermoform Crown A reimagined ultra-lightweight design, born from a new Proprietary Matrix Polymer. The tunable acoustic properties of this unique composite allow Titleist engineers to realize new material gains while maintaining our signature sound and feel. All wrapped in a clean look that inspires total confidence. Split Mass Construction A breakthrough in internal weighting unlocks longer drives and enhanced directional control in GT3. The Adjustable CG Track now sits closer to the face for more dynamic CG control, while additional discretionary mass is pushed to the back of the club to maintain optimal stability through impact. Advanced Aerodynamics GT3 features a new raised tail contour that represents a dramatic shift in driver aerodynamics. Previously impossible to execute due to design constraints, this advanced shaping results in a driver that swings faster while still providing optimal CG control.
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No. 2 TaylorMade Qi4D (6 wins by 3 players)
;)
Jack Hirsh/GOLF and TaylorMade
With the new Qi4D driver, it felt a little bit like to the return of the TaylorMade of old, with not just TaylorMade staffers gaming their latest driver, but non-contracted players and free agents as well.
It should come as no surprise that Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy picked up half of the Qi4D core model driver’s six wins this season, with Scheffler winning twice since making the switch three weeks ago. But the other half belongs to Wyndham Clark, who picked up the driver as a gear free agent, and it helped power his career resurgence this season.
With McIlroy and Clark collecting the Masters and the U.S. Open, the Qi4D collected half of this year’s major titles. Nelly Korda also won two majors with the Qi4D on the women’s side.
SHAPED FOR SPEED The re-engineered head profile increases ball speed thanks to improved aerodynamics developed through advanced simulations. FACE FOR DISTANCE 60x Carbon Twist Face™ is a technological cornerstone that provides weight savings, incredible ball speed and more consistency vs. a titanium face. ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE 4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight. TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes. Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance. Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to strategically place mass in areas of the head where it maximizes performance, speed, and stability.
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No. 3 Ping G440 LST (5 wins by 3 players)
;)
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
The Ping G440 LST also returns from last year’s list of winningest driver models, powered by Chris Gotterup’s three victories. The 440 LST was also one of the most played drivers on Tour all season, leading the count at multiple majors.
Notably, Viktor Hovland finally switched out of his G425 LST driver after playing it for five+ years, and he started to play the 440 LST just weeks before he won at Travelers. Also earning a win with the G440 LST this season is presumptive Rookie of the Year Alex Fitzpatrick.
The G440 driver family (MAX, LST, SFT) is optimized to deliver more ball speed through multiple advancements, including PING’s deepest CG in a driver to date and a shallower, thinner face, while continuing to ensure the game-changing forgiveness expected from a PING driver. The G440 LST (Low Spin) design appeals to players with faster swing speeds, providing lower spin and more control in 9° and 10.5° lofts with the three-position back weight. HIGHLY FORGIVING Lighter head weight allows for heavier back weight. FASTER FACE Shallow, thinner, face increases ball speed for more distance, higher launch. SOUND DESIGN New shaping, carbon crown and internal ribs produce muted impact experience. FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, increase forgiveness. Allows for more heel-side face flexing for consistent ball speed across face.
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T4. Titleist GTS2 and GTS3 (4 wins (2 each) by 4 players)
;)
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
While the GT3 racked up wins early in the year, by the summer, GTS was all the rage. Titleist’s newest driver quickly earned conversions by over 70 Tour players, and the two main models, GTS2 and GTS3, earned their first wins back-to-back in June with J.T. Poston (GTS3) and Bud Cauley (GTS2).
Tom Kim (GTS3) and Steven Fisk (GTS2) also added victories the same week at the Genesis Scottish Open and ISCO Championship, respectively, in July.
With Justin Thomas, Cameron Young and several others now playing GTS and with potentially more adding the club over the offseason, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Titleist’s newest driver near the top next season.
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA TOUR Superstore, Titleist
T4. TaylorMade Qi4D LS (2 wins by 2 players)
;)
Jack Hirsh
While this list is dominated by more “core model”-type drivers that are more forgiving than the low spin bombers that used to dominate the PGA Tour, one “LS” type driver still earned multiple wins this season.
Both Collin Morikawa and Michael Thorbjornsen captured their respective 2026 victories using the TaylorMade Qi4D LS model drivers, showing that the best driver and the most forgiving is actually the best fit driver.
On the women’s side, Haeran Ryu also won two majors with the LS driver, making it four of five for the Qi4D family at the women’s majors.
SHAPED FOR SPEED Traditional address shape based on feedback from world-class players helps create confidence on every shot. Qi4D LS is the lowest spinning option in the Qi4D lineup. FACE FOR DISTANCE Qi4D LS drivers feature a new and improved roll radius, yielding more consistent spin across vertical impact locations. ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE 4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight. TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes. Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance. Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to strategically place mass in areas of the head where it maximizes performance, speed, and stability.
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Other drivers to win on the PGA Tour in 2026
All won one event.
- TaylorMade Qi10 (Scottie Scheffler)
- Callaway Paradym Ai-Smoke TD Max (Justin Rose)
- TaylorMade Qi35 LS (Jacob Bridgeman)
- Srixon ZXi Proto (Nico Echavarria)
- Callaway Rouge ST Max LS (Akshay Bhatia)
- Cobra OPTM Max LS-K Prototype (Gary Woodland)
- Ping G440 K (Kristoffer Reitan)
- TaylorMade M2 ’17 (Brandt Snedeker)
- TaylorMade M6 (Aaron Rai)
- Titleist TSi3 (Russell Henley)
- Srixon ZXi RKT LS+ Prototype (Ryan Fox)
- Callaway Qauntum TD-TD (Stefano Mazzoli)
- Titleist GT2 (Jackson Koivun)
Total brand count
- Titleist: 14
- TaylorMade: 12
- Ping: 6
- Callaway: 3
- Srixon: 2
- Cobra: 1
Want to overhaul your bag for 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
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