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Looking for Darren Clarke WITB 2023 edition? Read on, Senior Golf Source expert covers the latest golf equipment seen on the PGA TOUR Champions.
We have looked at the equipment of the USA and International captains for the World Champions Cup, and now we turn to the European skipper. In this post, I conduct a Darren Clarke WITB 2023 review to see what golf clubs the 2022 Senior Open Champion is carrying this year.
By the end of the post, you will know what woods, irons, wedges, and putter the Northern Irishman operates. This helps you, as an amateur golfer, understand whether his equipment may work for you. I also provide alternative options which are more forgiving, high launching, and easier to control.
⛳️ Read Next: What Age Can You Play From The Senior Tees in Golf?
Darren Clarke Quick Facts Table
| Full Name | Darren Christopher Clarke |
| Birthday | August 14, 1968 |
| Birthplace | Dungannon, Northern Ireland |
| Age | 55 years old |
| Year Turned Pro | 1990 |
| Tournament Wins | 22 Wins |
| Major Wins | The Open Championship 2011; The Senior Open Championship 2022; |
| Senior World Ranking | 18 |
| Equipment Sponsor | TaylorMade |
Darren Clarke WITB Quick Summary
Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black
3 Wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black
3 Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19.5 degrees)
Utility Iron: Srixon ZX (2 @ 18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT Utility 105 TX (2)
Irons: TaylorMade P7MC (4-PW)
Shaft: ACCRA Steel Shafts
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (50-10 Mid, 54-12 Full, 58-10 Mid)
Shafts: ACCRA iSeries Steel
Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Only T5.5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 5.0
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Golf Grips: Golf Pride New Decade MCC Plus4
Darren Clarke Driver
TaylorMade Stealth Plus Driver – 9 degrees
Updated on No products found.
Driver
Overview
The gentleman from Dungannon carries the 5th best average for driving distance in the PGA TOUR Champions this season at 293.2 yards. His favored big stick is the TaylorMade Stealth Plus, which produces impressively low spin, rapid ball speed, and neutral ball flight.
Like the other drivers in the Stealth range, the Plus contains 60 layers of carbon on the clubface, which boosts energy transfer. I find it accelerates ball speed across an expanded area, and its sliding weight track allows me to shift the center of gravity (CG).
Despite its wealth of game improvement technology and sliding weight feature, the average golfer is better suited to the regular TaylorMade Stealth Driver.
PROS
- Optimizes energy transfer
- Sliding CG weight for desired shot shape
- Low spin
- Increased ball speed
- Forgiving golf driver
CONS
- Not as forgiving as the other Stealth drivers for slow swing speeds
- Moderately expensive
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Darren Clarke Fairway Woods
3 Wood
Overview
The 2011 Open Championship winner retains his loyalty to TaylorMade in the fairway wood department, continuing with the Stealth Plus range. At 13.5 degrees, the loft is considerably strong for the average golfer. However, it gives Clarke the mid-launch and low spin he needs without sacrificing forgiveness.
In my experience, the Stealth Plus Fairway Wood delivers superb turf interaction thanks to the V-Steel Sole Plate. As a result, it promotes a clean strike from the fairway and rough. In addition, its ZATECH Twist Face design presents a thin, fast, forgiving clubface that generates rapid ball speed on most strikes.
Despite a 12% larger clubhead, I recommend the average golfer swing the standard Stealth fairway wood for improved consistency.
PROS
- Medium launch
- Low spin
- Fast clubface
- Clean turf interaction
- Adjustable hosel
CONS
- Slower swing speeds may struggle for consistency with the medium launch
- Expensive golf club
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Darren Clarke Hybrid
TaylorMade Stealth Plus Tour Rescue – 3 Hybrid 19.5 degrees
Updated on 2024-04-18
3 Hybrid
Overview
The 2016 European Ryder Cup captain continues with TaylorMade as he transitions into the irons, opting for the TaylorMade Stealth Plus Tour Rescue. Darren carries the 19.5 degree edition, which is the equivalent of a 3 Hybrid.
TaylorMade refined the shape of the Tour Rescue to ensure workability and iron-level flight. However, the engineers enhanced the CG position to deliver consistent speed, controlled spin, and clean turf interaction.
Overall, I find the Tour Rescue is better suited to low handicappers and tour pros. Therefore, I suggest mid and high-handicappers test the standard TaylorMade Stealth Rescue.
PROS
- Refined clubhead
- Generates iron-like flight
- Prompts fast ball speed
- Adjustable hosel
- Crisp turf interaction
CONS
- Less effective against off-center strikes
- Not as forgiving as the standard Stealth Rescue Hybrid
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Darren Clarke Utility Iron
Srixon Golf ZX Utility Iron – 18 degrees
Updated on 2024-04-18
Utility Iron
Overview
The Northern Irishman changed tactics with his utility iron calling the Srixon ZX 2 iron a substitute for his driver or fairway woods. The ZX gives Clarke a moderately high launch for a utility iron.
Although the utility iron is not suited to everyone, I do love the feel it produces, thanks to its 1020 Carbon Steel body. It delivered a buttery-soft feel on center strikes and worked to calm vibrations on mishits.
I still feel the average golfer is better off with a hybrid’s consistent launch and flight.
PROS
- Workable flight
- Fast clubface
- Eliminates vibrations
- Soft feel
- Enhances energy transfer
CONS
- Pricey for a single golf iron
- Not as forgiving as a some of the best hybrids for the average golfer.
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Darren Clarke Irons
TaylorMade P7MC Irons – (4 – PW)
Updated on 2024-04-18
Irons (4 – PW)
Overview
The 2023 European World Champions Cup captain turns back to TaylorMade for his iron play. He decided on the P7MC range, which encourages outstanding workability in an appealing compact profile.
Aside from their beauty, the P7MC irons are fitted with Machine Milled Grooves for superior feel, spin, and control. While this sounds appealing, the irons lack leniency and are not ideal for the average amateur golfer. Instead, I recommend the more forgiving TaylorMade Stealth Irons.
PROS
- Generates workable flight
- Attractive compact profile
- Optimizes spin
- Buttery soft feel
- Controlled flight
CONS
- Minimal forgiveness
- Pricey irons; you may want to consider more forgiving irons
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Darren Clarke Golf Wedges
Cleveland RTX ZipCore Wedges – (50, 54, 58 degrees)
Updated on 2024-04-18
Wedges 50°, 54°, 58°
Overview
The top eagle maker on the PGA Tour Champions in 2023 ropes in the expertise of Cleveland for his greenside play. He keeps his wedge uniform, sticking with the RTX ZipCore family for his gap, sand, and lob wedge needs.
Cleveland built these wedges for superior golfers seeking rampant spin and control around the dancefloor. However, I find the Cleveland RTX ZipCore Wedges to have elevated MOI and stability at impact, which works well for mid-handicap golfers with superior short game skills.
⛳️ Read Next: Top Golf Wedges for Short Game Improvement
PROS
- UltiZip grooves generate maximum spin
- Elevated MOI for enhanced stability at impact
- Durable heat-treated clubface grooves for improved longevity
- Soft feel
- Moderately affordable
CONS
- Not suited to extremely high handicappers
- The wedges rust, which I appreciate, but other golfers may detest
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Darren Clarke Putter
Titleist Scotty Cameron Tour Only T5.5
Putter
Overview
Finally, the 2000 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship winner switched to a Scotty Cameron Tour Only mallet before the 2023 Senior Open. After missing the cut at the Open Championship the week prior, Clarke frantically tested an abundance of flat sticks before settling on the Scotty.
Given its tour-only privileges, you will struggle to get your hands on one. However, I find it similar in structure to the Scotty Cameron Phantom X5. The T5.5 mallet design enhances forgiveness across the milled face, prompting consistent topspin for a clean roll.
The Northern Irishman opts for a Zenergy Wristlock Tour 5.0 grip, which helps him control the putter face through the stroke. It also optimizes feedback for superior players to improve distance control on each stroke.
⛳️ Related: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5 Review
PROS
- High MOI design
- Superb feel
- Prevents topspin drop off
- Promotes clean roll
- Glare resistant finish
CONS
- Not available to the public
- Scotty Cameron putters are premium products
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Final Thoughts on Darren Clarke WITB 2023
Our Darren Clarke WITB 2023 review highlighted the European captain’s affection for TaylorMade golf clubs. He relies on the Behemoth brand for his driver, fairway woods, hybrid, and irons needs, before switching to Srixon for his utility irons and Cleveland for his wedges.
Finally, he turns to Titleist for his putting needs. Overall the golf clubs that make up Clarke’s bags are best left to low handicappers or professionals. While they offer some forgiveness, it is insufficient for the average golfer.
Now that you know what equipment the European captain plays, find out what his fellow World Champions Cup captains are playing at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida. This golf course was made famous by Jack Nicklaus who conceded his final putt in the Ryder Cup clinching the first tie in the tournament’s history with Tony Jacklin.
Keep reading with more what’s in the bag articles listed below, including Bernhard Langer, Steve Alker, John Daly, Vijay Singh, and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Clubs Does Darren Clarke Play With?
Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (8 degrees)
3 Wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (13.5 degrees)
3 Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19.5 degrees)
Utility Irons: Srixon ZX (18 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P7MC (4-PW)
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (50-10 Mid, 54-12 Full, 58-10 Mid)
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Tour Only T5.5 Putter
What golf ball does Darren Clarke use?
Darren Clarke prefers to utilize a Titleist Pro V1x golf ball.
How old is Darren Clarke?
Darren Clark was born on August 14, 1968. He is 55 years old and living a more healthy lifestyle. Clark was known for being one of the on-course smokers on the PGA Tour Champions.
