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What's in the bag: Aaron Rai's winning set up from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Monday, 10 November 2025

We take a look in the bag of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Aaron Rai.

When Aaron Rai teed up in Abu Dhabi, it was without much expectation. Making his first visit to Abu Dhabi since 2021, it was Rai's first visit to Yas Links, and he arrived after taking a seven-week break following the BMW PGA Championship in September.

Leading after the third round by one shot, Rai was challenged all the way but produced late fireworks with birdies at the 16th and 17th holes to force a play-off with Tommy Fleetwood.

And although he missed a chance to win on the 72nd hole, he made no mistake with his birdie putt at the first extra hole to become a three-time DP World Tour winner with his second Rolex Series victory.

"Didn't really have too many expectations coming into the week," Rai had said following his victory.

"I think it had been six or seven weeks since the BMW PGA, which was the last event that I played in. So yeah, I actually came here two weeks ago to do a little bit of practice, which helped massively just getting a feel for the course and a feel for the grass.

"I think what is special, as well, about this week, I've struggled in the Middle East for quite a while. So it was great, even getting off to a good start and getting comfortable and knowing that I can play well out here. To win this week is very validating and gives a lot of belief about my game."

The key to Rai's victory was incredible consistency from the tee, with his irons and on the greens, ranking first for both greens in regulation and strokes gained approach the green, as well as second for both driving accuracy and strokes gained tee to green.

It was a week where everything came together, but one that spoke volumes for Rai's consistency across his golf bag set-up. The Englishman has used the same driver - the TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) - for nearly six years, having first put it into his bag during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2019. He replaces the head around 2-4 times a year, but as they become more difficult to source, he often has to buy them online.

His TaylorMade P-7TW irons, which Rai started using at the 2020 British Masters, have also enjoyed incredible longevity.

That being said, there have been two changes this season. Rai switched to his current TaylorMade Spider Tour V putter at the 2025 British Masters, and made one change to his wedge set-up, adding a Vokey SM10-WW Proto pitching wedge since his previous start at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.