Equipment
Jordan Spieth switches putters at the AT&T Byron Nelson (Updated)
Update: 5/18/17 at 10:06 a.m.
It’s official; Jordan Spieth has switched putters. Based on PGA Tour Live coverage, Spieth is using a Scotty Cameron T5W Tour Only mallet during his first round at the 2017 AT&T Byron Nelson. For the record, he missed the 8-foot par putt in the screenshot above, and currently sits at even par through his first 5 holes. He birdied his first hole of the day, sticking it to 3 inches from the hole on his approach shot; he would’ve made that 3-inch putt no matter what putter he was using, however.
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Say it ain’t so, Jordan!
At the AT&T Byron Nelson on Tuesday, we spotted Jordan Spieth with a new Scotty Cameron T5W Tour Only putter in the bag instead of his familiar, rusted-out Scotty Cameron 009 Prototype. Now this does not necessarily mean he will use the new putter come Thursday, but it certainly implies he’s looking to make a switch. Here’s a reminder of what the 009 looks like:
You probably recognize it because Spieth has used the 009 in just about every round as a professional, including his historical 2015 Masters and 2015 U.S. Open victories. The problem is, there’s been trouble in paradise of late. While he was second on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting in 2016, he’s fallen to 39th in that stat category in 2017. And while PGA Tour wins aren’t easy to come by, he’s recorded just one victory in 2017, coming at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Once the best player in the world, he’s fallen to No. 6 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Coming off a missed cut at last week’s Players Championship, he expressed concerns about his putting performance, specifically on Bermuda-grass greens.
“It’s just been on and around the greens I just haven’t quite figured it out,” Spieth said. “These greens get pretty crusty and, historically, whenever firm Bermuda or greens are crusty to where it’s tough to set the putter down, I just struggle with my alignment and it just kind of throws me off. It happened again here.”
The AT&T Byron Nelson, however, is played at TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas, which is listed as having bent grass green surfaces.
Regardless, it seems Spieth is seriously considering switching out his 009 for a new flatstick. Even if it’s not this week, it’s clear he’s not happy with his putting performance and is willing to make a change.
Currently the top contender, based on the fact this putter was in his bag on Tuesday, is Scotty Cameron’s T5W Tour Only mallet with a flow neck and a SuperStroke FlatSo 1.0 grip.
We’ll be paying close attention on Thursday and throughout the week to see what Spieth ends up using on the greens. Check back here for updates.
See what GolfWRX members are saying about Spieth’s new putter in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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Equipment
Putter Roundup: 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
We always get some great photos of some phenomenal putters at tour events and love to share them. Here are a few from the 2024 Zurich Classic that caught our eye and seemed interesting. (And as a reminder, you can check out all our photos from New Orleans here)
MJ Daffue’s Scotty Cameron T-11 Prototype
MJ is going with the new Scotty Cameron T-11 Prototype this week. The putter is a multi-piece mallet that puts an emphasis on stability with the wings on the back. Daffue’s putter does have a design that differs from retail with a monotone finish, which eliminates the black paint on the aluminum parts that we see at retail. He also has a half siteline milled into the top and an L-neck welded on for some additional toe hang. The face features a deeper milling that should offer a softer feel and slightly quieter sound.
Scotty Cameron T-7.5 Prototype
We spotted a few different Scotty Cameron Phantom models with modified rear flanges. It looks like the straight black flange was cut into a half circle for a little softer look at address. On this T-7.5, you can still see the raw aluminum from the back view, so this might have been a last-minute job to get them out on tour. The semi-circle also has a white line on it, maybe to frame the ball differently.
Alex Fitzpatrick’s Bettinardi SS16 DASS
Alex’s SS16 is made from Bettinardi’s famous D.A.S.S., or double-aged stainless steel, for a softer and more responsive feel. The face has a unique diamond pattern milling and features a logo that I feel like I have seen before, but can’t put a name to. The putter is a classic mid-mallet style with a simple, single white siteline on the top. The sole is clean with just the SS16, DASS, and a green triangle logo on it.
Steve Stricker’s Odyssey White Hot No. 2
This putter has made some amazing putts in its long career! Stricker’s White Hot No. 2 might be in the top 10 of most famous putters in golf. When you see all the dents and lead tape, you know the heel will be up and it will be sinking putts! The soft White Hot insert looks to be in good shape and has less wear on it than the rest of the putter. We don’t know how much lead tape is on the sole, but it has to be multiple layers compacted down over the years.
Doug Ghim’s Scotty Cameron T-7 Prototype
This T-7 should win the award for “best color finish” in this list with its deep chromatic bronze. It looks like Scotty added a cherry bomb dot to the heel of the deep-milled face and filled it with a very dark blue paint. The rest of the putter looks pretty stock with its single site line on the topline and twin site lines down the “fangs” of the putter. Twin 5-gram weights are installed in the sole and the putter is finished off with a gloss black double bend shaft with a fill shaft offset.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic
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Equipment
Spotted: Project X Denali hybrid shaft
Project X’s Denali wood shafts have been seen in more and more golf bags this year as we start off the season. As a refresher, Denali Blue is the mid-launch and mid-spin model while Denali Black is for players seeking lower launch and spin.
Denali combines great feel with stability and increased ball speed. Currently, Project X only offers Denali Blue and Black in wood shafts, but we spotted a hybrid shaft in Daniel Berger’s bag at the 2024 Zurich Classic.
The shaft looks to be a Denali Blue 105G – HY in TX flex. No word on details from Project X yet but we can assume that this is a mid-launching shaft that weighs around 105 grams in Tour X-Stiff flex.
Berger has this shaft in his TaylorMade P770 3-iron, likely for some added launch and spin to hold the green from longer distances.
Hopefully, this means we will see some more shafts coming under the Denali name in the future, as I think many of us would like to try one in a hybrid or utility iron!
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic
- Check out in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s full WITB here.
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tlmck1234
May 23, 2017 at 1:57 am
And poor me I’m stuck with my 1980 Bullseye Flange model. It has more tech than you’ll ever need to hole a putt. Much better feel than the modern stuff as well.
Moe
May 21, 2017 at 1:54 pm
You aim better… You putt better period.
Mallets our easier to line up. Yes they are more forgiving but these guys so good there not using for forgiveness as much as alignment. You can have greatest stroke ever but you better be able to read a green and (aim) start on your line to even have a chance.. Never mind speed. Spieth aims better you will see instant success on shorter putts
Tazz2293
May 20, 2017 at 9:32 am
Maybe it was/is the putter.
Yesterday it was the Driver
Until Spieth can hit more fairways and hit the ball closer to the pin Spieth will never win another major
russell platt
May 19, 2017 at 9:19 pm
He”s the pro and he knows his weaknesses better than anyone else. I wish him well and I know a lot of us are big Jordan fans. I was really hoping he would be the one to handle the Europeans, but that has changed, go Dustin, and watch the stairs.
Joey
May 19, 2017 at 6:17 pm
People always say “it’s not the putters fault” when someone misses a putt.. not the putter that’s good it’s the player! he could use whatever he wants as long as it’s the same set up. Definitely no magic in the putter. Just a whole lot of hard work
Ray Bennett
May 19, 2017 at 5:35 pm
If it looks good, feels good and performs good, it probably is good.????
M Sizzle
May 19, 2017 at 12:02 am
Settle down Francises
Pingback: Look: Spieth makes putter change at Byron Nelson – Sporty Show
DH
May 18, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Go back and find as many 714 AP2 heads as possible and use them for the foreseeable instead of the 716, and hit more greens and the ball closer to the pin and you won’t have to switch from the 009.
Blake
May 18, 2017 at 11:23 am
Makes absolutely no sense for one of the best if not the best putter to change the putter he has used for 10+ years
moses
May 18, 2017 at 7:08 am
Wow one of the best putters I’ve ever seen (outside of 8 feet) is changing putters.
Photo
May 18, 2017 at 1:05 am
No surprise. If there is ever a place for forgiveness, it’s the putting green. Why make alignment more difficult? Expect the trend to continue.
MiuraLovechild
May 17, 2017 at 10:33 pm
I don’t know why everyone doesn’t play a face balanced high MOI mallet style putter. They’re easy to align and feel great. And no, a blade doesn’t free up your stroke any more either. I’m definitely more financially free with all the money I’m winning with my improved putting.
Tiger woods
May 18, 2017 at 1:59 pm
That is not a face balanced putter.
Guia
May 17, 2017 at 10:31 pm
Big mistake.
Tazz2293
May 17, 2017 at 9:32 pm
Rich Hunt did a statistical analysis of Speith’s game. From the the date of the article I would say this encompasses the 2014-2015 seasons up to June 30, 2015.
When putting from 15-25 feet Speith was 3rd in putting on the PGA Tour
When putting from 25+ feet Speith was 11th on Tour
10-15 feet he was 82nd
5-10 feet he was 84th
3-5 feet he was 178th
As of late, and for his career, Speith’s approach shots and proximity to the pin is below what should be expected of someone with the talent of Speith. Most of this is due to his driver stats. While Driver stats are not bad, they are not great. To add, since the 2016 masters Speith’s Driving issues are getting worse and not better.
Speith’s putting from 15 feet and over is what made him great for that short time frame. As I stated earlier, the putting stats on putts of 15 feet or more was a statistical anomaly and that a PGA Tour Pro cannot count on winning on a regular basis with putting metrics like this.
Tazz2293
May 17, 2017 at 8:56 pm
Here is a novel idea for Jordan
Hit more fairways then hit the green a lot closer to the pin in regulation. A player cannot count on sinking 20 to 25 foot putts consistently to win on the PGA tour.
Yes, you can have the odd year when you make everything from everywhere but those odd years are the statistical anomaly and not the norm.
Rex
May 17, 2017 at 9:06 pm
I say this about every time I get drunk with my buddies. Wonderful comment
The Dude
May 17, 2017 at 9:55 pm
your rational when your drunk??….wonderful comment…
Johnnythunders
May 17, 2017 at 5:07 pm
Jordann Speith will be on “where are they now” in 5 years. He was all make the 20 footer and he was great, didnt last, he does not have the game anymore. And that constent talking andnwiping the towel like Sergio in his meltdown years. Do no t like watching him play, and that chicken wing swing is so ugly. He needs a brain enema and s total swing iverhaul.
xjohnx
May 17, 2017 at 2:10 pm
This is the definitely the affect of the Spider Tour putters on tour right now. It’s crazy
Bobbyeggroll
May 17, 2017 at 5:18 pm
Yes Mallet putters are new.
Putt for Dough
May 17, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Why is everyone upset that he’s changing putters?? Is it because it’s a mallet, or just because everyone loves his current putter? If he’s struggling and seeing the players pass him in the OWGR using a mallet putter, why not try to find something?
God Shamgod
May 17, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Yikes. That is a bad sign coming from a guy who relies so heavily on his putter. He isn’t a terrible ball striker, but he is far from a world #1 with less than top 5 putting.
Johnnylongballz
May 17, 2017 at 12:47 pm
He needs to change drivers not putters.
Bobbyeggroll
May 17, 2017 at 5:20 pm
Funny how everybody knows what the former #1 needs. Im sure he will take your advice.
Benny
May 19, 2017 at 8:15 am
Im with Bobby. You guys are all hacks. I know im a hack and regardless if you have a club deal or in the us am you are still a hack, compared to Jordan. He is doing ecactly what any of us would do and thats search for anything that helps. Like Tiger only change can do that.