Why Pros Are Wearing PLD Golf Hats At The Players Championship
Ping pros are wearing PLD caps and using special bags at TPC Sawgrass this week - here's why

Many eagle-eyed golf fans will notice a number of Ping staff players wearing PLD golf caps and their caddies carrying white, black and gold PLD-logoed bags at the Players Championship. So what does it mean?
It's the second time Ping has decked out its players with PLD caps and bags during The Players week, after debuting the accessories at TPC Sawgrass in 2022.
The three-letter acronym stands for 'Putting Lab Design', with many of Ping's pros using the PLD range out on the PGA, DP World and LPGA Tours as well as in LIV Golf.
Players showing off the PLD logos this week include Viktor Hovland, Matthieu Pavon, Corey Conners, Austin Eckroat, Sahith Theegala, Mackenzie Hughes, Harris English, Taylor Moore and Nate Lashley.
A post shared by PING (@pingtour)
A photo posted by on
PLD was originally available for pros only, but the line was launched to consumers in 2022 and featured a range of high quality, premium milled flat sticks, including the PLD Anser putter. They're made from a solid block of forged 303 stainless steel, which Ping says "requires more than four hours of milling time" and have the company's precision-milled face pattern.
They come in a range of different blade and mallet designs, ranking among the best putters on the market - and five new models have just been released in the form of the PLD Milled Anser, Anser 2D, Oslo 3 and DS72 and Ally Blue 4.
Viktor Hovland is Ping's biggest name player to use one of the models, with the FedEx Cup champion and Ryder Cup star using a PLD DS 72 prototype mid-mallet.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Allisen Corpuz won the US Women's Open with one in the bag, while LIV Golf star Joaquin Niemann has also been using a PLD model to great success.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
PGA Tour Issues ‘Constructive’ Update After White House Meeting With President Trump And Yasir Al-Rumayyan
The PGA Tour has released a statement, describing talks at the White House on the reunification of the men's game as "constructive"
By Mike Hall Published
-
Tiger Woods Joins US President Donald Trump For Black History Month Reception At White House
The 15-time Major winner was at the White House reception following further talks between the PGA Tour and the President on the future of the men's elite game
By Mike Hall Published
-
World No.1 Amateur Luke Clanton Signs With Nike Golf
The University of Florida star has released a video on his Instagram account revealing he has signed a deal with Nike Golf
By Mike Hall Published
-
Sun Day Red Announces First PGA Tour Ambassador
Tiger Woods' clothing brand has announced their first brand ambassador, with 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Rookie of the Year, Karl Vilips, set to don Sun Day Red apparel
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Arccos Announces New Gen 4 Smart Sensors, App Refresh And Next Generation Mapping
Arccos has unveiled new Gen 4 Sensors as well as some key updates to help users get even more from its shot tracking and game analysis capabilities
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Ludvig Aberg Swapped Drivers Before Genesis Invitational Final Round Victory
Claiming a one stroke win at the Genesis Invitational, it turned out the Swede made a driver swap prior to his final round at Torrey Pines
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Rory McIlroy Reveals His Favorite Golf Club Of All Time
The four-time Major winner has used various clubs from multiple brands throughout his career and, at Torrey Pines, McIlroy revealed his favorite model of all time
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Scottie Scheffler Makes Equipment Change For Genesis Invitational
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler has made a surprise equipment switch at the Genesis Invitational, with a TaylorMade Qi35 7-wood making it into his bag at Torrey Pines
By Paul Higham Published
-
Why Golf Pride Thinks Its New Align Max Grip Can Help You Hit Straighter Shots
Today sees the release of Golf Pride's new Align Max grip, but what's it all about?
By Joe Ferguson Published
-
Daniel Berger Makes Equipment Change As 13-Year-Old Irons Leave The Bag
After using 13-year-old TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC irons, the American has finally switched them up for Ping Blueprint S models to help contend in Phoenix
By Matt Cradock Published