Not all professional players are paid to use the clubs they play in the competition.
Some may be hardware-less agents with a mixed bag. Some may have a primary club deal that allows flexibility to add on other brands. Everyone’s situation is different.
But when you see a certain brand showing up on the bags of top players — guys who aren’t under contract with that brand — you definitely take notice.
Cleveland/Srixon is a great example of this. They are constantly sneaking into the bags of the best players even though these guys are not on staff with them.
The brand, of course, has full-time staffers like Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Hideki Matsuyama, Keegan Bradley, Sepp Straka and Ryan Fox — but there are also some notable non-staffers who rely on Cleveland/Srixon for major clubs throughout their bag.
Here are five of the best players in that category that caught our eye.
Scottie Scheffler
The world’s top-ranked player has kept his Srixon ZU85 (3 or 4) utility iron throughout his dominant run over the past few years.
Considering the ZU85 was released in 2018 and Scheffler put it in the bag a year later, that’s pretty impressive. Not many players stay at one club for seven years.
While Scheffler has occasionally switched to a 7-wood – as he did at last year’s PGA Championship – the ZU85 has a more penetrating flight compared to a higher-elevation wood, while still being a more forgiving long-iron option than the rest of his irons.
It’s a delicate balance, but you can’t argue with the results. Scheffler was ranked 6th on the PGA Tour for driving distance from 225-250 yards.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler’s bag recently went through a total makeover, as he decided to change almost every club in the bag going into 2026.
One club that remained the same was his 60-degree Cleveland RTZ tour rack Proto lobe wedge.
A fascinating part of Fowler’s wedge setup is that he plays three different wedge patterns, and they all have a pronounced offset. Its 54- and 58-degree wedges are bent two degrees hard to add to the offset.
His habit Cleveland RTZ tour rack The Proto is not bent, but is built with more allowance than your standard wedge. Fowler also uses low bounce (six degrees) which is for players who have shallower swings. The low bounce tends to be especially effective on tight lies.
Dustin Johnson
Despite being a non-contract player, DJ uses a full set of three clubs Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack wedges. They were an addition to his bag last year.
Johnson goes with a 50-, 54- and 58-degree wedge configuration. It has 10 degrees of jump in the 50 and 54 degree wedge and 10 degrees of jump in the 58 degree wedge.
These wedges are uncut, raw, tournament-grade wedges featuring “Z-Alloy” for a softer feel and more durability. They feature improved ZipCore for durability, HydraZip for wet weather spin and UltiZip grooves. The Tour Rack defines customizable raw finishes and grinds, allowing for custom sole milling, stamping and paint fills.
Patrick Cantlay
Like Scheffler, Cantlay has been using a Srixon long iron for years.
Cantlay used one Srixon ZX5 Mk II 4-iron since 2023, shortly after the club was released.
The premium forged player’s distance iron is designed to combine distance, forgiveness and a compact appearance. It features a forged 1020 carbon steel body, AI-designed variable thickness face and high-density tungsten in the toe for stability. A wider sole and progressive grooves are key to consistent distance and spin.
Matt Kuchar
Kuchar believes a mainstay in the tournament for more than two decades Srixon ZX7 MK II series irons.
Despite being nearly 48 years old, Kuchar still has a place in the top 100 of the Data Golf rankings because of his accuracy and approach game.
This set is a forged player’s iron with a compact shape, narrow soles and 1020 carbon steel. Key features include PureFrame for reduced vibration and Tour VT Soles for improved interaction on the ground, designed for players with limited to moderate skill who require control.
Srixon/Cleveland play other non-staff games
Francesco Molinari, Rico Hoey, Taylor Montgomery and Camilo Villegas are among the other non-staffers who have a Cleveland/Srixon club in the bag.
Srixon it is also iron no. 1 on the PGA Tour Champions.
While there are plenty of examples of non-staffers playing other brands, we’ve definitely noticed them Cleveland/Srixon clubs constantly find their way into the wallets of guys who don’t get a dime to play at those clubs.
Top photo: Scottie Scheffler drives his Srixon ZU85 4-iron during the final round of the 2025 Open Championship. (GETTY IMAGES/Christian Peterson)
