If you look at PGA Tour data for 2025, the list of players who were the best in approach shots looks like a compilation of the best golf we’ve seen all season: Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, etc.
I wanted to dig a little deeper to see if there were any significant similarities in the iron setups that helped them attack the greens week after week.
There was a clear trend that stood out almost immediately. Nine of the top 10 access players in 2025 were using combination iron setssomething that more amateur players should pay attention to.
Common thread
Among the top 10 players in Strokes Gained: Approach in 2025, only one player did not use a traditional combination iron set.
That player was Tommy Fleetwood and even his build tells a similar story.
Fleetwood only carries irons up to a 5-iron and then switches to a 9-wood to cover longer distances. The philosophy is identical to the rest of this group. Each club in the bag is chosen for a specific purpose rather than forcing one iron pattern to do everything.
For the rest of the list, the pattern is obvious. All play with more forgiveness in the long irons and more accuracy in scoring. Most transitions occur on the 4- or 5-iron.
Iron configurations of the best approach players in 2025
| Player | Long irons | Irons Note |
|---|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | Srixon Z U85 (3–4) | TaylorMade P7TW (5–PW) |
| Viktor Hovland | Title U505 (3) | PING i210 (4–PW) |
| Shane Lowry | Srixon ZXiU (3), ZXi5 (4–5) | Srixon ZXi7 (6–PW) |
| Collin Morikawa | TaylorMade P7CB (4–6) | TaylorMade P730 (7–PW) |
| JJ Spaun | Srixon ZXi5 (4) | Srixon ZXi7 (5–PW) |
| Tommy Fleetwood | – | TaylorMade P7TW (5–PW) |
| Sepp Straka | Srixon ZXi5 (4–5) | Srixon ZXi7 (6–9) |
| Henrik Norlander | PXG 0317T (4–5) | PXG 0317ST (6–PW) |
| Ben Kohls | T200 title (4–5) | Title 620 CB (6–PW) |
What does this mean for amateur players?
Many amateur players choose one iron pattern and stick with it throughout the set. That’s not how tournament players are thinking about their gear.
These players have access to the best fit in the world, and the trend they have reached is clear. An iron model rarely does everything right.
Even at the highest level, long, traditional player style cuffs are harder to hit consistently. The launch windows are tighter and the percentages these players are seeing aren’t strong enough to keep them in the bag. With how competitive things are on Tour, even small changes in accuracy or consistency will force a club out of the bag.
Why iron groups have changed
Not too long ago, iron kits were almost always sold as 4-PW. Today, it can be hard to find even a 4-iron in many iron models.
Golfers are realizing that long irons and fairway irons are required to do very different jobs. Man needs departure and forgiveness. The other needs distance control and precision.
If you’re playing a 5-PW set and are struggling with your 5-iron or feel like your 9-iron and pitching wedge aren’t giving you the scoring performance you want, there are options.
Why does Srixon appear so often?
It is no coincidence that Srixon repeatedly appears among the best approach players in 2025. The brand designs iron lineups that blend exceptionally well across all categories. Visual transitions are smooth. The offset and topline changes are manageable even for the best players.
This makes them ideal for construction of combined groups that feel cohesive rather than united.
The bottom line here is simple. The best iron players in the world aren’t afraid to admit that some irons are harder to hit than others, and they build their sets accordingly.
Amateur players would be wise to do the same.
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