What’s In The Bag: Nicolai Hojgaard

What’s In The Bag of DP World Tour Champion Nicolai Hojgaard? We review the Ryder Cup player’s equipment.

Jump To: WITB Hojgaard

The Danish star ended 2023 on a high, claiming the European golf’s biggest prize, the DP World Tour Championship with an eight-under-par 64 to hold off Ryder Cup compatriots Viktor Hovland and Tommy Fleetwood by two shots at Jumeirah Estates’ Earth Couse, Dubai.

Today's Golfer What's In The Bag is brought to you in association with Callaway Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X golf balls.

Hojgaard’s triumph over the leading 50 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings, including nine of his Ryder Cup teammates, proves the Danish player can mix it with the world’s best, and will now be confident of taking the next step of competing for a Major championship.

Victory in the desert earned Hojgaard $3 million and a further £1.2 million bonus for finishing second on the season-long rankings.

Nicolai Hojgaard wins the 2023 DP World Tour Championship.

Hojgaard’s milestone win, his third overall, was his first since February 2022 when he stormed to a four-shot win at the Ras al Khaimah Championship, becoming the first player to win with TaylorMade’s new Stealth driver.

Since then, however, the 22-year-old Danish player, along with twin brother Rasmus has signed for Callaway, joining the brand’s 2023 staff team on the DP World Tour.

Nicolai Hojgaard claimed his second DP World Tour win at the Ras al Khaimah Championship.

Nicolai won his first tournament at the Italian Open in September 2021, a week after his brother had triumphed at the Omega European Masters, making them the first brothers to win in back-to-back weeks on the European Tour.

In the final two weeks of the 2023 Ryder Cup qualification period, Nicolai registered two top-five finishes, proving to Captain Luke Donald that he could perform when it really mattered. He was subsequently rewarded with a spot on the European team and made his debut appearance at the Marco Simone Golf Club.

Let’s take a look at the Callaway equipment used by the Danish player in 2023.

Nicolai Hojgaard is congratulated on his Ras al Khaimah victory by twin brother Rasmus.

WITB Nicolai Hojgaard

What driver does Nicolai Hojgaard use?

Nicolai Hojgaard uses a Callaway Triple Diamond driver (10.5°) with a Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei White AV 70X shaft

Price: £399.00
The low-spinning Paradym Triple Diamond driver is a popular choice with tour pros, with many Callaway players seeing an increase of 2-3mph ball speed over the previous Rogue ST model.

In our driver’s test, we found that the Paradym Triple Diamond will be a cracking driver when it’s in the right hands. If you swing with the speed and consistency of Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele, this may be the perfect driver for you. The chances are that many of you reading this don’t swing as precisely as these tour players so may want to look for a low-spin driver with a little more forgiveness.

TG’s test pro-Neil Wain said when hit out the middle the Paradym Triple Diamond is a rocket. This is proven in our test, with the Paradym Triple Diamond ranking second for carry distance. However, testing also showed that anything hit off-center was punished severely by the Paradym, resulting in a 59-yard-left-to-right dispersion.

Read our full Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond driver review.

Pros

Cons

Lofts: 8° / 9° / 10.5°
Stock shaft: Aldila Ascent, HZRDUS Silver, HZRDUS Black, Mitsubishi Kai’li White
Stock grip Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 (50g)
Adjustable hosel Yes

What fairway woods does Nicolai Hojgaard use?

Nicolai Hojgaard uses a Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond fairway woods (16.5°, 20°) with Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro White 80-TX shafts

Price: £249.00
The Callaway Paradym fairway wood is popular among tour pros, including Jon Rahm, Si Woo Kim, and Justin Rose.

Just like the Paradym Triple Diamond driver, the fairway is fast and long when hit from the middle. At 254 yards it was the second-longest on test.

However, while it looks neat and attractive at address, there’s no hiding that it hit shots into an area twice the size of our test average. It also launched shots with 700rpm less spin, flew four yards lower, and hit the ground at a five-degree shallower angle than our test averages. Put simply, the majority of club golfers will struggle to launch and live with this model on the golf course.

Read our full Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond fairway wood review.

Pros

Cons

Lofts <meta charset
Stock shafts <meta charset
Stock grip Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360
Adjustable hosel Yes

What irons does Nicolai Hojgaard use?

Nicolai Hojgaard uses Callaway Apex MB irons (4-PW) with Project X LZ 7.0 shafts

Price: 140.00 / $187.50 RRP per club
We’ve seen some stunning musclebacks in our time, but the new Apex MB is an absolute beauty. We love the new satin chrome finish which doesn’t glare in bright sun, and how Callaway has built in a new weight right behind the center of the face.

It means the model can be swing-weighted for different shafts without moving the center of gravity.
And because great players crave consistency, Callaway says their 20V face grooves help reduce fliers from the rough. We feel it’s one of the best Callaway irons available (if you’re good enough to use them).

Read our full Callaway Apex irons review.
Availability 3-PW
Stock shaft Project X IO
7-iron loft 34°

What wedges does Nicolai Hojgaard use?

Nicolai Hojgaard uses a Callaway Jaws Raw wedge (50°), and Jaws Full Toe wedges (56°, 60°) with Project X LZ 6.5 shafts

Price: 179.99 / $179.99 RRP
With Vokey, TaylorMade, and Cleveland Golf shouting so loudly about their wedges it’s really easy to forget wedge legend Roger Cleveland has loads of input into each of Callaway’s new models.

Jaws is a tour-level model, designed from feedback garnered by their wedge supremo from working with the world’s top players.

It has a very sharp leading edge, which will be great for nipping shots from the tightest of lies, but makes it much more likely to dig into heavy damp turf too. 
    
We’re big fans of how the Raw rusts only on the face, cutting out glare in bright sunlight. If you believe rusty faces spin more, then you get the best of both worlds – additional performance with wedges that don’t immediately look old and worn out. A very tidy, but pretty costly option.

Read our full Callaway Jaws Raw wedge review

Pros

Cons

Lofts: 46° / 50° / 52° / 54° / 56° / 58° / 60°
Grind options: Z, S, X, W
Finishes: Chrome, Black Plasma

What putter does Nicolai Hojgaard use?

Nicolai Hojgaard uses an Odyssey Versa Jailbird putter

Price: £179.99
Hojgaard uses Odyssey's Jailbird Versa putter, the choice of fellow tour winners Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark. However, with the Jailbird not currently in the 2023 Odyssey roster, and less readily available for purchase, we have highlighted the 2023 iterations of the Odyssey Versa putters, that see a change in shaft, the return of an iconic face insert, and a design that makes alignment as simple as black and white.

This proven, major-winning Versa technology has dominated Tours all over the world. The black and white high contrast alignment system helps golfers with their alignment at address and through your stroke. It highlights the proper face angle and improves concentration, so you make more putts.

Read our full Odyssey Versa putters review.

Pros

Cons

Style 5 blade and mallet options
Stock shaft <meta charset
Stock grip <meta charset

What golf ball does Nicolai Hojgaard use?

Nicolai Hojgaard uses a Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball

Best premium ball to aid alignment and visibility
Price: £39.99
Callaway has been manufacturing tour standard golf equipment for over 30 years, which has made them one of golf's major brands. Chrome Soft golf balls were first introduced in 2015 and over the years Callaway has added the Chrome Soft X and Chrome Soft X LS to the line-up. The Chrome Soft X is the most successful ball of these three having won major championships and an Olympic gold medal.

The Chrome Soft X is designed to offer distance off the tee by reducing spin while delivering impressive spin and control around the greens - being the highest-spinning model out of the Chrome Soft range. Having a compression rating of 100 the Chrome Soft X (and Chrome Soft X LS) are targeted toward tour players and better players. However, if you have a slower swing speed the Chrome Soft may be the best option in this range for you.

Making the Chrome Soft X golf balls an option for more golfers is the addition of alignment aids and visibility assistance. My personal favorite is the 360° Triple Track which makes putting much more straightforward.

If you prefer a slightly softer ball with lower compression (slightly cheaper too) then take a look at the Callaway ERC Soft golf balls.

Read our full Callaway Chrome Soft X golf balls review.

Pros

  • Good distance off the tee and in the long game
  • Incredible spin and feel
  • Outstanding feedback from the club face
  • Range of alignment aids and visibility assistance

Cons

  • Soft feel won't be to everyone's liking
Construction Four-piece
Cover Urethane
Dimples 332
Compression 100
Feel Medium
Flight High
Colors White; Yellow
Alternative Models 360º Triple Track; Triple Track; Tru Track; Truvis
  • Precision technology
  • Construction optimization
  • Hyper elastic softfast core
  • New tour aero

What golf shoes does Nicolai Hojgaard use?

Nicolai Hojgaard wears adidas ZG23 golf shoes

A favorite spiked golf shoe with our editior and Tour stars
Previously, adidas has been criticized for making heavier golf shoes, but they've well and truly squashed that with ZG23. They are remarkably light golf shoes that push the boundaries of how lightweight footwear can perform.

It is a hybrid golf shoe that combines a recycled upper, with a Lightstrike midsole for maximum cushioning and energy return and is brought together with a six-cleat Traxion outsole.

Many brands would say that six cleats are not enough to give the best traction on a shoe. But the way the outsoles are designed with spikes and a layer of strategic molds makes you feel closer to the ground and helps you transfer weight through the swing. The ZG23 also has 3D cradles down the side for lateral stability during the golf swing.

All that you'd expect from a premium-priced shoe that is worn by some of the world's best players, it's also fully waterproof.

See how the ZG23 compares to the best adidas golf shoes.

Pros

  • Super lightweight
  • Easy to clean
  • Go great with any outfit

Cons

  • At first glance, it doesn’t look as premium as the price point
Sizes 6.5 – 14.5
Colors 5
BOA Yes
Waterproof Yes
Nicolai Hojgaard wears adidas apparel and shoes.

What golf apparel does Nicolai Hojgaard use?

Nicolai Hojgaard wears adidas golf apparel

Best for sustainability
Price: £30.00 / $55.00 RRP
Both Hojgaard brothers are adidas golf athletes and wear the brand's latest collections on the DP World Tour.

The adidas Performance Primegreen Polo offers an affordable and sustainable option for golfers who feel passionate about helping to tackle the climate crisis. Adidas has used 100% recycled polyester piqué to ensure that the polo is as environmentally friendly as possible. The polo is stretchy and flexible, offering comfort and maneuverability out on the course at an affordable price.

The polo is smart enough to double up as a shirt for less formal professional wear and has the classic looks you would expect from the sports clothing powerhouse. A novel optional extra with this polo is the chance for personalization, which will appeal to many.

Pros

  • 100% recycled materials
  • Stretchy and flexible
  • Personalization options

Cons

  • Plain styling might not suit flamboyant tastes
Sizes S-3XL
Colors 7
Material 100% recycled Polyester Piqué

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About the author

Ross Tugwood is a Golf Equipment Writer for Today's Golfer.

Ross TugwoodGolf Equipment Writer

Ross Tugwood is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation. He’s also an expert in golf apparel and has a keen interest in sustainability.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

Ross uses a Cobra King SZ Speedzone driver, Titleist TSi2 3-Wood, TaylorMade Sim2 Rescue, Callaway Apex Pro irons (4-PW), Cleveland 588 RTX wedges (52°, 58°), TaylorMade Spider Ex Putter, and a TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.

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