Traditionally a blade iron player, Titleist Brand Ambassador Webb Simpson stepped to the first tee Thursday at the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills with a set of new T100 irons in his bag, having practiced with them at home leading up to the year’s second major.

“I’ve had a couple of short stints with non-blades in my career but not many,” said Simpson, who had been playing 620 MB models. “Approach to the green is typically a strength for me; this year it’s been a weakness, and I’ve struggled out of the rough. I keep getting told that these the irons I’m playing are better out of the rough, better with distance control, better with mis-hits, and so I guess I was being stubborn but finally listened and I really like them.”

On Saturday at Southern Hills, Simpson shot one of the best rounds of the tournament – a 5-under 65 in cold, windy conditions – while recording a season-high Strokes Gained: Approach in any round (+4.541). He led the field in both Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green and Approach. From 50-125 yards away, his average proximity was almost 5 full feet better than the field average. From 125 to 150, he was about 8 feet better than the field average.

As a result of the iron change, Simpson also moved into the 2021 Pro V1 golf ball from a prior generation model. Webb’s initial testing of the T100's, according to Fordie Pitts of Titleist Golf Ball R&D, showed that his spin was reducing a little bit. “By moving to ‘21 Pro V1, he was able to regain that spin and control.” Pitts said.