In the mid 2000′s, there were approximately only 35 to 40 players on the PGA Tour who carried a utility like hybrid wood.  Todd Hamilton used a version of today’s hybrid to win the British Open at Royal Troon.  He played with a Sonartec called the MD Transition and used it on nearly every tee.  He even used it as a chipper where he proceeded to get the ball up and down on 13 out of 14 attempts around the barren terrain fronting the greens.

There was a bit of controversy of whether the club even conformed to the rules and the R & A had to look into it further before eventually he was cleared as the winner.  It was this monumental event that provided the exposure needed to launch companies who were already producing hybrid prototypes into action and propel many others to follow lead.

Today hybrids account for nearly 35% of all wood sales (even while excluding those hybrid clubs sold as a part of an iron set).  There is no question that hybrid technology offers offers more options for players of all types to hit more shots from varied lies and around greens.  Whether used as full iron replacement, trouble clubs, or to fill that gap in the bag their is no doubt that hybrid equipment is here to stay.