Ernie Els, four-time major champion and one of the most technically sound ball-strikers of his generation, has spent his Champions Tour years doing something most 50-somethings with a Hall of Fame swing wouldn't bother with: actively changing equipment mid-career, and even mid-tournament, when it gives him an edge. That makes his bag more interesting to track than most.
Here's his most recently documented Champions Tour setup, compiled independently from published equipment trackers and tour reporting rather than a single static source. As you'll see below, "what's in Ernie's bag" isn't always the same answer twice in one season.
In The Bag
- Driver Srixon ZXi Diamond, 9° loft Newton Fast Motion shaft
- Fairway Wood Ping G430 Max, 15° loft Fujikura Ventus Blue VeloCore Plus 7X shaft
- Utility Irons (3–5) Srixon Z U85 KBS $-Taper 130 shaft, Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4 grip
- Irons (6–PW) Srixon ZXi7 KBS $-Taper 130 shaft, Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4 grip
- Wedges Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack, 52°, 56°, 60° KBS $-Taper 130 shaft, Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4 grip
- Putter Odyssey Ai-ONE Square 2 Square Max Stripe SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0 grip, see note below on putter rotation
- Golf Ball Srixon Z-Star XV, Tour Yellow
Why His Bag Actually Changes Mid-Season
Unlike a lot of veterans who lock into a setup and never touch it, Els has been openly testing new equipment during competitive rounds, including switching back to older, trusted clubs when conditions demand it. After testing a new iron set in calmer conditions during one 2024 Champions Tour event, he reverted to his established Srixon irons for a windy final round, explaining afterward:
Ernie Els, as reported by GolfMagic
That back-to-back-win weekend is a useful reminder for the rest of us: the "best" club on paper isn't always the right one for the conditions in front of you. Els' willingness to swap gear mid-tournament, and to trust decades of feel over a fresh fitting, is part of what's kept him competitive against players 20 years younger.
What This Bag Tells Regular Golfers
A few equipment lessons worth stealing from a setup like this, even if you're not a four-time major champion:
- A single-manufacturer setup (Srixon/Cleveland/XXIO family) isn't about brand loyalty for its own sake. Matching shaft profiles across your irons and wedges (here, KBS $-Taper 130 throughout) keeps feel consistent from a 5-iron down to a 60° wedge.
- Utility irons in the 3–5 slot instead of a traditional long iron or hybrid is a common Champions Tour move, worth considering if you're carrying a 3-iron you rarely hit solid.
- Putter changes are normal, even at the highest level. If you're precious about "gaming" the same putter for a decade, know that plenty of tour pros aren't.
Conclusion
Ernie Els' 2026 bag reflects a player who treats equipment as a tool to be adjusted, not a static identity: a Srixon-led iron and driver setup for ball-striking consistency, a Ping fairway wood that's earned its keep, Cleveland wedges built for touch around the green, and a putter that changes when the read calls for it. It's a setup built by feel and results, not by sponsorship obligation alone, which is a big part of why it's still winning.