Jun 23, 2025

CARLSBAD, Calif. (June 23, 2025) – The ginger-haired Spaniard with the iconic ponytail used Nippon Shaft products in his irons and wedges to win his third senior major on the second hole of a sudden death playoff, sinking a 20-foot birdie putt to close the deal.

The 61-year-old used Nippon Shaft’s N.S.PRO MODUS³ TOUR105 X steel shafts in his irons and wedges to shoot a regulation score of 10-under par with rounds of 70-66-66-68, which included final round birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to force the playoff.  It was the 17th victory on the senior circuit – and the fourth this season – who took home $525,000 for Sunday’s efforts.

Meanwhile, in Japan, a 19-year-old woman used Nippon Shaft’s N.S.PRO MODUS³ TOUR105 S steel shafts in her irons and wedges to win the Japan LPGA’s Nichirei Ladies in Chiba, Japan. Her 12-under par performance with rounds of 67-65-72—204 gave her a four-shot victory and a win worth 18 million yen ($123,153 U.S.).

Finally, the winner of the DP HotelPlanner Tour’s Blot Play9 at Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André, France played N.S.PRO MODUS³ TOUR120 X in his irons and wedges for his third career win. 

“Nippon Shaft is very proud to have been part of victories on three major global tours,” said Hiro Fukuda, sales & marketing for Nippon Shaft. “Nippon Shaft is proud to have the skilled workforce and engineering expertise to build high quality shafts for the different skill sets at the top of today’s game and for amateurs who want to keep getting better.”

More than 300 players on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, European Tour and Korn Ferry Tour use Nippon Shaft’s MODUS³ series steel shafts to help gain their desired distance, accuracy, and trajectory.

Nippon Shaft products are available globally either as stock or custom shafts in many of the world’s top iron brands.  Details of these can be found at www.nipponshaft.com

Based in Yokohama, Japan, Nippon Shaft is the No. 1-selling steel shaft in Asia.  Nippon Shaft is a privately-held subsidiary of NHK Spring Co. LTD, a Japanese automobile parts manufacturer.  Nippon Shaft’s North American headquarters is in Carlsbad.