Austin Smotherman Wins First PGA Tour Title With L.A.B. VZN.1i
By Staff Writer
2 min read
LoopGolf
Key takeaways
- Austin Smotherman won the 2026 Bank of Utah Championship, his first PGA Tour title, playing L.A.B. Golf's new VZN.1i mallet.
- The VZN.1i, released in June, is billed as L.A.B.'s most forgiving putter since the original Directed Force 2.1.
- Smotherman gained more than 5.3 strokes putting through the first three rounds, ranking 20th in the field in that category for the week.
- He had the putter in his bag for only his second tournament, after a refitting at L.A.B.'s Eugene, Oregon headquarters.
- Smotherman is L.A.B.'s second tour ambassador, a role he took on after switching to the brand's OZ.1 putter in June 2025.
Austin Smotherman won his first PGA Tour title at the Bank of Utah Championship on Sunday using a putter he had put in play only once before: L.A.B. Golf's new VZN.1i mallet.
What is the L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i?
Released in June, the VZN.1i — L.A.B. shorthand for "Vision One Eye" — is the company's most forgiving design since its original Directed Force 2.1 model. The putter is built around strong visual alignment cues at address, paired with a newly shaped sole meant to give golfers more confidence that the face is square before they stroke it.
How did Smotherman end up with it?
Smotherman has played L.A.B. putters since switching to the OZ.1 in June 2025, a model he used to finish T2 at the Cognizant Classic in March before signing on as just the second touring professional to formally represent the brand. Between the Wyndham Championship and his first start of the fall, he flew to L.A.B.'s headquarters in Eugene, Oregon, where the company builds roughly 1,200 custom putters a day, for a full refitting. It was also his first season working with putting coach Josh Gregory.
How did the putter perform in Utah?
The Bank of Utah Championship was only Smotherman's second tournament with the VZN.1i. He matched his PGA Tour-low round of 62 in Friday's second round and gained more than 5.3 strokes putting through the first three rounds, finishing 20th in the field in that category on his way to the win. Smotherman called the new setup "working out pretty nice."
| Spec | L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i |
|---|---|
| Length | 34.5" |
| Lie | 69.5° |
| Alignment aid | Short line |
| Insert | Flymill steel |
| Shaft | L.A.B. Golf x TPT |
| Grip | SuperStroke TLT |
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy the L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i?
It is available through L.A.B. Golf directly and at PGA Tour Superstore locations.
How is the VZN.1i different from L.A.B.'s earlier putters?
L.A.B. describes it as its most forgiving mallet since the original Directed Force 2.1, built with stronger visual alignment cues and a reshaped sole.
What putter specs does Austin Smotherman play?
His VZN.1i is built to 34.5 inches at 69.5 degrees of lie, with a short-line alignment aid, a Flymill steel insert, an L.A.B. Golf x TPT shaft and a SuperStroke TLT grip.
- Austin Smotherman
- L.A.B. Golf
- VZN.1i putter
- Bank of Utah Championship
- mallet putters
- Josh Gregory
- PGA Tour equipment
