AI Driver Fitting Helped Chris Gotterup Win The 2026 Sony Open

Chris Gotterup turned heads at the 2026 Sony Open with one of the most impressive performances of the early PGA Tour season. He powered his way to victory with elite driving statistics, including leading the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and unleashing a massive 190 mph drive on a crucial par-4 to take control late in the event. One reason for his success was his driver setup, an AI configuration designed for powerful ball speed, low spin, and control.

While Chris is a Tour pro with access to world-class fitting and equipment support, everyday golfers can benefit from the same kind of precision when selecting a driver. This is where AI fitting, such as the technology used by golfgaim.com, offers real value. It takes the guesswork out of equipment selection and delivers recommendations that align with a player’s unique swing characteristics. Let’s look at Chris’s driver and then examine how AI fitting could help you dial in the right driver setup for your game.

Inside Chris Gotterup’s Winning Driver Setup

Chris’s driver of choice at the Sony Open was the Ping G440 LST model in a 7.5 degree loft, fitted with a Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 70 TX shaft.

Here are the important characteristics of his setup:

Driver Model and Design

The Ping G440 LST driver is engineered with a deep center of gravity and a shallow, thin face for increased ball speed while providing a low spin trajectory. It is particularly suited for golfers with faster swing speeds looking to control spin and produce higher ball speeds without sacrificing forgiveness.

Loft Selection

Gotterup’s 7.5 degree loft is low by standard retail offerings. That loft was originally available only as a Tour-exclusive option and was later added to the broader product line. Lower loft helps golfers with high swing speeds reduce spin and manage trajectory.

Shaft Choice

The Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 70 TX shaft is a very stiff option, designed for players with high clubhead speed and aggressive loading characteristics. It provides stability and control, and helps translate Chris’s swing speed into efficient energy transfer at impact.

This combination helped him consistently generate powerful, penetrating drives and gain strokes off the tee throughout the tournament.

Why Driver Fitting Should Be Done With AI

Lot of golfers choose new drivers based on brand hype, general reviews, or simple shaft speed guidelines. In many cases that leads to mismatches in launch, spin, and dispersion. On Tour, players like Gotterup combine physical conditioning, swing mechanics, clubhead design, shaft stiffness, and loft choice to match their individual swing profiles. For amateurs, the same principles apply. The difference is that amateur golfers often lack access to high-end fitting services or advanced data interpretation.

That is where AI fitting makes a significant difference. AI fitting analyzes multiple data points simultaneously rather than making recommendations based solely on swing speed or feel. It reads your actual swing performance to generate a predictive model of how different equipment combinations will behave with your swing. These models include variables such as:

• Swing speed and acceleration profile

• Angle of attack and dynamic loft at impact

• Strike location consistency

• Launch angle and spin patterns

• Dispersion tendencies

• How your equipment interacts with your motion

With this information, AI can recommend the optimal driver head, loft, shaft model, flex, and weight that are best suited to produce higher ball speeds, more forgiveness, and better control for your game.

How AI Fitting Works in Practice

If Chris Gotterup’s data were input into a system like golfgaim’s AI fitting platform, the system would identify his driver specifications as a strong match for his swing profile because:

• He generates high clubhead speed that supports lower loft to control spin.

• His strike pattern and release profile benefit from a firm, low-torque shaft that maintains face control.

• His launch and spin numbers align with the Ping G440 LST’s design for distance and trajectory.

The AI fitting process would analyze your own swing data in a similar way and compare it with performance models to recommend not just a driver model but the exact combination of head, loft, and shaft that produces the best results for you.

Instead of guessing whether a particular driver will help, you can make data-backed decisions that match your swing characteristics.

Turning Data Into Better Performance

Chris’s success at the Sony Open is an example of how the right driver setup can amplify a golfer’s natural strengths. For everyday golfers, the primary challenge is understanding which specifications align with their swing and how to use that information to improve consistency and distance.

AI fitting makes this accessible:

• It removes the guesswork from driver selection.

• It matches equipment to how you actually swing.

• It predicts performance outcomes rather than relying on generic categories.

• It helps you choose the shaft flex that supports your tempo and release.

• It suggests loft angles that balance carry and control based on your launch tendencies.

This level of personalization leads to more confidence off the tee and more consistency throughout your bag.

The Future of Fitting Is Smart and Individualized

In professional golf, top players constantly refine every aspect of their equipment. Chris Gotterup’s driver setup is a reminder that success off the tee comes from aligning your gear to your motion, not just picking the newest or most popular club. With AI fitting from golfgaim, everyday golfers can take a similar approach. By using your own swing data to find the right driver fit, you give yourself the best chance to improve distance, control, and overall performance. Explore how AI fitting can help you match your driver and the rest of your clubs to your individual game at golfgaim.com.