TAYLOR MADE ‘PITTSBURGH PERSIMMON’ DRIVER

Although manufacturers had experimented with metal heads in the past, the real breakthrough came in 1979. Club maker Gary Adams created a 12-degree cast stainless steel driver and called it Taylor Made, nicknamed Pittsburgh Persimmon.

Tour players quickly adopted the club and in 1981 Ron Streck was the first man to win with a Pittsburgh Persimmon in his bag. Metal drivers became increasingly popular from then on and would eventually replace wooden heads completely.