LPGA stars Rose Zhang and Nelly Korda used yet-to-be-released drivers last week in Naples, Fla.
The Grant Thornton Invitational might produce more smiles per hole than just about any event on the PGA or LPGA tours, but it also served a more serious purpose for some of the game’s biggest stars. As players prepare to put their clubs away and enjoy the holidays, several used last week’s mixed-team event in Naples, Florida, as a low-risk opportunity to test new drivers expected to arrive in pro shops early next year.
The USGA and R&A recently added five Callaway Quantum drivers to their conforming driver head lists, and Rose Zhang put one in play for the first time in competition. Specifically, Zhang used a Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond driver. Zhang turned professional in 2023 after winning back-to-back NCAA Women’s Golf Championship titles, two Annika Awards and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur while playing at Stanford.
At the same event, Nelly Korda made a notable equipment change of her own. After using a TaylorMade Qi10 driver throughout 2025, Korda opted for a yet-to-be-released TaylorMade Qi4D, which was added to the conforming list a few weeks earlier. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler both recently used the Qi4D at the Hero World Challenge, while Tommy Fleetwood was spotted with a TaylorMade Qi4D LS at Yas Links Golf Club during a DP World Tour event in Abu Dhabi.
Events like the Grant Thornton Invitational, which Lauren Coughlin and Andrew Novak won with a record score of 28 under, along with the Hero World Challenge and this week’s PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, offer an ideal testing ground for new equipment. Building trust in a golf club requires using it on the course, under pressure, but elite players prefer to develop that confidence in competitions they can afford to lose. Limited-field events, mixed-tour formats and family tournaments before the start of a new season fit that bill perfectly.
While Callaway and TaylorMade have not officially commented on their upcoming drivers, history is a reliable guide. If past launch timelines hold, golfers can expect to see these models unveiled shortly after the confetti from New Year’s Eve is swept away.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rose Zhang Nelly Korda prototype Callaway TaylorMade Grant Thornton
Category: General Sports
