Tyrrell Hatton beat Dan Hillier by one shot to win the Dubai Desert Classic, using a new fairway wood.
Hatton was delighted to get his first win at the Emirates Stadium and said the iconic trophy was something he had always wanted to lift.
The Englishman is now the leading LIV golfer in the world rankings, which is some achievement considering the way the numbers work, and he is quickly becoming the best player to win a major to date.
Hatton has always been a big fan of Ping and rarely mixes up his bag, so it's worth noting when he does.
So what made him switch to the G440 Max?
What is the G440 Max replacing?
In January 2023, Ping launched the G430 fairway wood series to join the rest of the family. Ping's Carbonfly Wrap was subsequently introduced into the G430 SFT and Max fairways, following the addition of the same design to the G430 LST driver.
The idea is to replace the steel with carbon fiber, thus saving 10 grams of weight, and then add tungsten rear weight back into the head. This lowers the center of gravity (for higher ball speed) and increases forgiveness.
Most of the crown is covered in carbon, which is then wrapped to the heel and toe, which also improves the sound. Added to this are the existing Facewrap (designed to increase ball speed) and Spinsistency (designed to enhance spin consistency).
What's in the new range?
There are three types of fairway woods: LST (low spin), SFT (slice correction) and Max. Hatton previously owned a G430 Max and now uses a G440 Max.
The eight-time DP World Tour champion isn’t a big tinkerer, but he’s got this 15° wood straight into his pocket and it paid off as he equaled the Rolex Series record with his fifth victory. Hatton is hitting 83.3 percent of his greens (ranked: second) and will be 8 under on the par 5s.
What’s behind the G440 Max?
There are five different tilt angles – 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 – all adjustable by +- 1.5°. Hatton's ball flight is high, so a 3-wood is a good fit for him, and the new 4-wood in the lineup is likely to appeal to golfers who typically rely on a 3-wood.
The clubface is 4 percent taller, which helps boost confidence off the tee, something Hatton will rely on heavily in Dubai. Here, Ping's hosel, screw and heel sections are 11.5 grams lighter, allowing them to increase face height while a low center of gravity helps achieve higher launch on the turf.
What did Ping say?
“All of our requirements for the G440 fairway woods revolved around 'How do we get better performance off the tee, give golfers more confidence off the tee, while maintaining the same performance off the turf?'
“The higher face in the fairway makes them more forgiving, especially off the tee. Players like the added height in the face—it gives them confidence, especially on tight lies and off the tee.
“The 4-wood provides golfers with a higher trajectory than a traditional 3-wood while providing more control and versatility. We added a 4-wood and a 5-wood to the Max model to fill the gaps And provide more accessory options.
Read more: New for 2025 – How the Ping G440 driver breaks new ground
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