
Jack Hirsh
April 28, 2025
Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak’s victory in Zurich only won one victory for Ping and Mizuno on the weekend.
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
In my role as a gear journalist, I usually see myself contacting different PR contacts and travel representatives from the respective golf club manufacturers to confirm the championship winner in the bag.
I found myself in contact with Mizuno product director Chris Voshall this past Sunday.
Initially, it was time to get specs for Ariya Jutanugarn, who played Mizuno’s hardcore and led the Chevron Championship. Then there was the request for Ben Griffin, who was sponsored by the Japanese sports giant, had just buried a long putt to help him and partner Andrew Novak win the Zurich Classic. We also spin with Maozeg’s specs, who beat Jutanag and three others in Chevron’s playoffs.
Then, Chris added this: “When we came, Marco Penge was on the DP…”
Like Griffin, Penge is the first time winning Penge of the DP World Tour and another Mizuno approver.
All in all, Mizuno Irons added up to three wins this weekend, with two players from Mizuno staff playing the company’s new Pro S-3 Irons, and another runner-up.

Jack Hesh/Golf
Both Griffin and Penge play the new Mizuno Pro S-3 Iron, the first in the company’s new Mizuno Pro Signature series, all in one piece. Griffin, who played the Mizuno Pro 241 blade last season, told me on WM Phoenix Open that the S-3S is the best Irons Mizuno has ever made.

Mizuno Pro S-3 Custom Iron
The Mizuno Pro S-3 Irons represent sophisticated craftsmanship and elite performance, combining Mizuno’s famous forging expertise with the precision and versatility required by today’s golfers. With its stylish, compact silhouette and a great feel, the Pro S-3 is the ultimate choice for players seeking precision and control in every shot. The iconic Mizuno Pro Feelthe Mizuno Pro S-3 offers the iconic feel that solidifies Mizuno’s reputation. This unusual feeling stems from the high-definition craftsmanship of advanced grain flow forging, performed only on the Hiroshima plant in Mizuno and enhanced by quality materials: 1025E Pure Select Select Mimper Carbon Steel: Provides the soft, responsive touch that golfers love. Copper Base: Cleverly enhances vibration mode to ensure smoother and more connected every strike.
$200 from Fairway Jockey
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Also available: PGA Tour Usperstore, Mizuno
The S-3 is somewhere between the company’s Pro 241 and Pro 243 Irons, as a single piece of wrought iron with a traditional loft, as well as a shallow cavity to enhance forgiveness. They intend to be suitable for senior ball shooters, and they want something more forgiving than blades. They are also the first Mizuno to have a new triple-cut sole, which helps turf interactions.
Penge is also playing the company’s ST-X 230 drivers and St-Max Fairway Woods, which are now available for sale in Fairway Jockey.
An important week for ping drivers
Mizuno wasn’t the only company that achieved great success last week.
Griffin and Novak are playing Ping drivers, just like Joaquin Niemann, who won the Liv Golf Mexico event. Niemann is a career guy and has recently been part of the company’s work with his LIV golf team.
Novak is the new G440 LST 7.5˚ driver for gaming ping, while Griffin and Neimann both played the G430 line model (Griffin The Max 10k and LST Niemann).
Ping’s platform is one of the most stable platforms out there, so it’s no surprise that even PGA Tour players win with Ping drivers, even if they don’t have a contract to play the game.

PING G440 LST custom driver
The G440 Driver Family (Max, LST, SFT) is optimized with multiple advancements to deliver higher ball speeds, including Ping’s deepest CG and shallower, thinner faces, while continuing to ensure the game-changing forgiveness that Ping drivers expect. The G440 LST (Low Scroll) design appeals to players with faster swing speeds, offering lower rotation speeds in the 9° and 10.5° lofts, and has three positions rear weight. A highly tolerant, lighter head weight can make the back weight heavier. Faster faces are shallower and thinner, and the face increases the ball speed to increase distance, and a higher launch. The sound design is new shaping, the carbon crown and inner ribs will create a soft impact experience. Freestyle design saves weight to lower CG and increases forgiveness. Allow more heel flexion to stabilize the face.
$599 from Fairway Jockey
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Also available: PGA Tour Supermarket
All G440 line drivers are some of the most forgiving heads we’ve seen in the Golf 2025 club quiz. Sometimes they are given the speed, the speed of the tour values forgiveness and accuracy rather than hitting it as much as possible.
That’s not to say you can’t hit the Ping driver – you can definitely and should try someone you can see – but they also have some of the biggest desserts, which may make the fairway easier.
Want to overhaul 2025? Find a club location near your True Spec Golf.
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Jack Hirsh
Golf.comEdit
Jack Hirsh is the assistant device editor for Golf. Jack is a Pennsylvania native and a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning his degree in broadcast journalism and political science. He is the captain of the high school golf team and recently returned to the program as head coach. Jack is still* trying to stay competitive among local amateurs. Before joining golf, Jack worked for two years at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a multimedia journalist/reporter, but also produced, anchored and even presented the weather. He can be contacted at jack.hirsh@golf.com.
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