In an era defined by speed and data, Rai’s commitment to simplicity has become his signature — and the key to his victory.

Two gloves and memories of cold English Winters

As a child growing up in Wolverhampton, England, Rai practiced with his father in freezing winter weather. To keep his hands warm, young Aaron wore two gloves — a habit he never abandoned, even as a touring professional.

“I tried taking one off, but the club just didn’t feel right. I went back to two gloves and never changed again,” Rai says.

The model he wears, Glenmuir MacWet, has stayed with him for more than two decades. For Rai, the consistency of his grip matters more than fashion or Tour convention.

Iron headcovers – A reminder of where he came from

Almost no professional golfers use iron headcovers anymore — but Rai does. To him, it’s a small ritual that connects him to his father and to the early days of their practice sessions.

“When we used to practice, my dad would clean every groove with a pin and baby oil. He thought it’d be good to protect the clubs, so we covered them. I’ve kept that habit ever since — as a way to appreciate what I have and remember where I came from,” he shares.

That small act makes the 30-year-old Englishman stand out not only for his precision, but also for his humility — a rare quality in today’s world of swing speeds and yardage charts.

An old driver, still the most accurate

Rai is living proof that old doesn’t mean obsolete. His TaylorMade M6, released in 2019, remains his trusted gamer. Though he tested the SIM2 Max and Titleist GT, Rai always returned to the M6 — the club that gives him complete confidence.

And the numbers back him up: 73.85% fairways hit, the highest accuracy rate on the PGA Tour in 2025.
His M6 is paired with a Mitsubishi Diamana BB 73 TX shaft, set at 9°, and he still uses a castle tee — a plastic tee with a fixed height, common in the UK.

A setup that balances tradition and modernity

Rai isn’t a purist stuck in the past. He updates where it matters most. His TaylorMade Qi10 fairway woods (3W – 15°, 5W – 18°) paired with Fujikura Ventus Blue 8X shafts help him attack par-5s efficiently.

His lone hybrid, a Titleist GT2 (24°) with a Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90TX shaft, remains one of the few hybrids still seen on Tour — giving him control over mid-range distances.

With his TaylorMade P7TW irons (5–9) — the same line used by Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood — Rai showcased exceptional control at Yas Links: 92% greens in regulation, including a perfect 18/18 on Saturday.
His wedges — Titleist Vokey SM9 (46°, 54°, 60°) — might not be the newest, but they’ve matured into a perfectly familiar extension of his hands.

Spider Tour V – A new touch in familiar hands

Rai’s final weapon is the TaylorMade Spider Tour V, which replaced his TP DuPage putter. He made the switch before the 2025 British Masters, keeping the SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 1.0P grip he trusts.
Throughout the week in Abu Dhabi, Rai ranked inside the top 30 in Putting Average, showing remarkable composure under pressure.

A ball and 4 Letters that mean family

Rai has played the Titleist Pro V1 since he was 10 — nearly his entire golf life.

“When I do my job right, the ball has to be exactly where I want it — and the Pro V1 has always done that for me,” he says.

Each ball he uses has a black line around its center, a small dot next to the Titleist logo, and four initials — L, O, N, S — representing his family members. A small, personal mark of gratitude.

Keeping old habits to win new battles

The victory in Abu Dhabi not only brought Rai $1.5 million and his third DP World Tour title, but also reaffirmed a timeless truth: in golf, technology evolves — yet discipline, humility, and gratitude remain the real difference-makers.

Aaron Rai doesn’t win because of cutting-edge tools; he wins because he still carries the same spirit from those early days cleaning clubs with his father.
In a sport increasingly driven by algorithms and equipment, Rai reminds us that sometimes, to go further, you simply stay true to how you began.

Aaron Rai’s Winning WITB – Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2025

Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9°) – Mitsubishi Diamana BB 73 TX shaft

Fairway Woods: TaylorMade Qi10 (3W 15°, 5W 18°) – Fujikura Ventus Blue 8X shafts

Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (24°) – Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid 90TX shaft

Irons: TaylorMade P7TW (5–9) – True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 shafts

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (46°, 54°, 60°) – True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300 shafts

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour V

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

GolfEdit.com