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Jordan Spieth switches putters at the AT&T Byron Nelson (Updated)

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Update: 5/18/17 at 10:06 a.m.

SpiethNewPutter

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.

——-

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:

485627a2116632962600e9770ea9e35c

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.

SpiethPutter

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.

SpiethGrip

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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He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

27 Comments

27 Comments

  1. 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.

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  6. Ray Bennett

    May 19, 2017 at 5:35 pm

    If it looks good, feels good and performs good, it probably is good.????

  7. M Sizzle

    May 19, 2017 at 12:02 am

    Settle down Francises

  8. Pingback: Look: Spieth makes putter change at Byron Nelson – Sporty Show

  9. 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.

  10. 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

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. Guia

    May 17, 2017 at 10:31 pm

    Big mistake.

  15. 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.

  16. 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…

  17. 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.

  18. 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

  19. 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?

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

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Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.

From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.

Specs/ Additional Details

-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)

-Original Anser Design

-PING PP58 Grip

-Putter is built to standard specs.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes

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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.

The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.

On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.

Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.

At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.

“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.

Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.

“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.

“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.” 

In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.

On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.

According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.

“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.” 

See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here. 

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Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage

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Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.

It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.

When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”

“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”

 

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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.

Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:

“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.

“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.

“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.

“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.

“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”

So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.

His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.

See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here

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