First PGA Tour Victory:: Gerard won his first PGA Tour title at the 2025 Barracuda Championship, earning a two-year exemption and spots in The Players and PGA Championship.
Career-Defining Decision:: One year ago, Gerard chose to fly to Reno for the Barracuda Championship instead of waiting as an alternate for The Open at Royal Portrush — a decision that changed the trajectory of his career.
Dramatic Open Debut:: Despite hitting a "dreaded shank" with a wedge into a sandy area during Round 2, Gerard saved par with a brilliant 20-foot putt and a fist-pump celebration at Royal Birkdale.
Full Titleist Setup:: Gerard uses a near full bag of Titleist clubs including a GT3 driver, T100 irons, Vokey wedges, and a Scotty Cameron Phantom 3 putter, with TaylorMade fairway woods.
Korn Ferry Comeback:: After a gray-area status on the PGA Tour in 2024, Gerard won the BMW Charity Pro-Am on the Korn Ferry Tour by six shots and finished 12th on the points list to earn his way back.
Why this matters: Gerard's story is a testament to trusting your gut and making bold decisions under pressure — both in life and on the course. His equipment choices also offer insights for amateur golfers looking to build a high-performance bag.
Twelve months ago, Ryan Gerard stood at John F. Kennedy International Airport facing a career-altering choice: wait in Scotland as the fifth alternate for The Open at Royal Portrush, or fly back to the United States for the Barracuda Championship in Reno, where he already had a spot in the field.
After consulting with his team and learning that most players had registered and no significant injuries were reported, Gerard made the call to continue west. His friend and fellow pro Ben Griffin encouraged him to trust the opportunity in Reno. It was sage advice.
*"I was deciding if I needed to get off, get the clubs and get back over there, or do I just keep going,"* Gerard recalled on the *Any Given Monday* podcast.
Exhausted after arriving in Reno in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Gerard committed fully to the Barracuda Championship. The payoff was immediate: he led through three rounds in the Stableford format and sealed the win with a 30-foot eagle putt at the par-5 11th. The victory not only secured his first PGA Tour title but also granted him a two-year exemption, a spot at The Players Championship, and entry into the PGA Championship.
Fast forward to the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Gerard's debut in a major championship has been anything but ordinary. In Round 2, he hit a shank with a wedge into a sandy area well right of the 8th green — a shot that would rattle most players. Instead, he blasted out onto the green and drained a 20-foot putt for par, punctuating the escape with a fiery fist pump.
The moment went viral on social media and became a defining highlight of his week. According to Data Golf, Gerard enters the final round with a six percent chance of winning — long odds, but remarkable for a player who wasn't even sure he'd be in the field a year ago.
Gerard, a Titleist staffer, employs a mixed bag of elite-level equipment:
| Club | Model | Shaft |
|------|-------|-------|
| Driver | Titleist GT3 (11°) | Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 X |
| 3-Wood | TaylorMade Qi10 HL (16.5°) | Fujikura Ventus TR Red 7 X |
| 9-Wood | TaylorMade Qi35 (24°) | Fujikura Ventus TR Red 7 X |
| Utility Iron | Titleist T250 (3-iron, optional swap) | — |
| 4-Iron | Titleist T250 | Mitsubishi MMT Hybrid 100 TX |
| 5-9 Irons | Titleist T100 | KBS C-Taper 125 S+ |
| 46° Wedge | Titleist Vokey SM10 | KBS C-Taper 125 S+ |
| 50°, 54°, 60° Wedges | Titleist Vokey SM11 | True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300 |
| Putter | Scotty Cameron Phantom 3 | — |
| Ball | Titleist Pro V1 | — |
| Apparel | Peter Millar | — |
| Glove/Shoes | FootJoy | — |
Depending on course conditions, Gerard swaps the 9-wood for a Titleist T250 3-utility iron, giving him flexibility between high-launch distance control and lower piercing ball flight.
Trust the data, then trust your gut:: Gerard evaluated the odds of getting into The Open and made a calculated decision. Amateurs facing tough course or equipment decisions should do the same.
Commit fully:: Once Gerard chose Reno, he never looked back. Split focus leads to split results.
Have a comeback plan:: After losing his full status in 2024, Gerard didn't complain — he won on the Korn Ferry Tour and earned his way back. Resilience matters more than talent over the long haul.
What driver does Ryan Gerard use?
Gerard uses a Titleist GT3 driver set at 11° with a Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 X shaft.
Does Ryan Gerard use mixed brands in his bag?
Yes. While primarily a Titleist staffer, Gerard uses TaylorMade Qi10 HL (3-wood) and Qi35 (9-wood) fairway woods alongside his Titleist irons, wedges, putter, and ball.
What was the decision Gerard faced a year ago?
After playing the Scottish Open, Gerard was the fifth alternate for The Open at Royal Portrush. He chose to fly to Reno for the Barracuda Championship instead of waiting — a decision that led to his first PGA Tour victory.
How did Gerard earn his way back to the PGA Tour?
After losing full status, Gerard won the Korn Ferry Tour's BMW Charity Pro-Am by six shots and finished 12th on the points race, earning his PGA Tour card for the following season.
What putter does Ryan Gerard use?
Gerard uses a Scotty Cameron Phantom 3 mallet-style putter, though he alternates between mallet and blade designs depending on feel.
Ryan Gerard's journey proves that rejection (or missing out) can be redirection.: His decision to skip The Open last year led to a career-changing win.
Equipment flexibility matters.: Gerard mixes Titleist irons and driver with TaylorMade fairway woods, showing that even tour pros blend brands for optimal performance.
Resilience wins.: After being relegated to a gray-area status with minimal starts in 2024, Gerard didn't quit — he dominated the Korn Ferry Tour and earned his way back.
Mindset under pressure.: His shank-turned-par-save at Birkdale demonstrates how mental toughness can turn disaster into momentum.
The best gear won't help without belief.: Gerard's bag is top-tier, but it was his faith in a difficult decision that ultimately changed his career.
Ryan Gerard's story is one of perseverance, smart decision-making, and raw talent — and it's far from over. With 18 holes left at Royal Birkdale, could the former Tar Heel complete the fairytale and lift the Claret Jug?
Do you think Gerard's career-defining decision to choose Reno over Royal Portrush will be remembered as the turning point of his career? Let us know in the comments!
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