Equipment
The putters used by the top 10 in strokes gained: putting
What do the PGA Tour’s best putters use to hole out in the fewest amount of strokes on Tour? Now that the 2017-2018 PGA Tour season is behind us, we can do a thorough examination.
First, here’s a tally of what the top 10 in strokes gained: putting on Tour are using by manufacturer.
- Bobby Grace: 1
- Odyssey/Toulon: 4
- Ping: 1
- Scotty Cameron: 2
- TaylorMade: 2
But this is GolfWRX, so of course you want to know more. Below is a breakdown of the SG:P leaders’ putters and grips.
10. Phil Mickelson
Putter: Odyssey Versa #9
Grip: SuperStroke Slim 3.0
Strokes gained: putting: .580
9. Patrick Rodgers
Putter: Toulon San Diego
Grip: SuperStroke Flatso 1.0
Strokes gained: putting: .596
8. Peter Malnati
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport Fastback Select Prototype
Grip: Scotty Cameron Full Cord
Strokes gained: putting: .619
7. Johnson Wagner
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport Mid Slant
Grip: Dancing Cameron Full Cord
Strokes gained: putting: .623
6. Webb Simpson
Putter: Odyssey Tank Cruiser V-Line
Grip: Odyssey Arm Lock
Strokes gained: putting: .672
5. Alex Noren
Putter: Odyssey O-Works #1W
Grip: Odyssey Jumbo Pistol
Strokes gained: putting: .682
4. Beau Hossler
Putter: Taylormade TP Ardmore 2
Grip: Taylormade Daddy Long Legs
Strokes gained: putting: .685
3. Daniel Summerhays
Putter: Ping Custom-Milled B60 Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Ultra Slim 1.0 Pistol
Strokes gained: putting: .736
2. Greg Chalmers
Putter: Bobby Grace MacGregor V-Foil
Grip: Royal Pistol
Strokes gained: putting: .790
1. Jason Day
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Red
Grip: TaylorMade Spider Tour Red Grip (Winn Medalist)
Strokes gained: putting: .849
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.
Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.
We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.
Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).
See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here
Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge
Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.
View this post on Instagram
A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.
See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here
Turning Back the clock
Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.
But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.
For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.
Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.
The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.
The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.
Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter
Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.
Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.
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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.
If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.
Brilliant.
See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here
Stricker’s unrecognizable putter
Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.
Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.
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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates
Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.
Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.
It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.
Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines
Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.
Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.
FitzMagic teams back up
Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.
See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here
And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.
We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!
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Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB 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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Brandon Miller
Nov 13, 2018 at 12:14 pm
A great list of what the top 10 putters in strokes gained use. But the major difference lies in the person putting the ball versus the equipment that the putter is using.
Benny
Nov 3, 2018 at 7:34 pm
Sure its a personal but you still have to know how to roll the rock. My only mention is these are mostly all mallets/mid mallets.
Howard Clark
Oct 22, 2018 at 9:23 am
Women are better putters. Need their info.
jc
Nov 29, 2018 at 5:25 pm
not really
gunmetal
Oct 22, 2018 at 2:00 am
Just a general observation that about half of these guys struggled to keep their card. Good thing they could putt I suppose.
Dave Bryce
Oct 21, 2018 at 10:15 am
Andy North won two US Opens with a putter he purchased out of the bargain barrel;it is personal preference more then any other club in the bag!
joro
Oct 21, 2018 at 11:13 am
When Gene Littler won the Open in I think 62 he got it from Al Abrego, the Pro at a Pitch and Putt course call Presidio Park in San Diego. It was an old Putter my Father in Law had traded for another Putter. Gene loved it and the rest is history.
Joro
Oct 20, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Some can and some can’t and it ain’t the Putter, It’s the Putee. And to be a good Putter you have to be putting for something other than Double Bogey, listening Phil? It is a bunch of Baloney!!!! I Putt just great with my 16 yr. old RIFE and not very good with my 350.Dollar Scotty. I also have an old C Groove that is better, so don’t fall for marketing when you should fall for what works, not what is in your bag to impress.
Tiger Noods
Oct 19, 2018 at 8:20 pm
A real case of causation doesn’t equal correlation.
Tom54
Oct 19, 2018 at 7:46 pm
Forget the make of putters or the grip they use,how about Webb Simpson making the list at all having to go away from the long putter. That is quite an accomplishment I do believe. To you,Adam Scott keep trying. It can be done.
shawn
Oct 19, 2018 at 6:08 pm
Well that proves it… Odyssey/Toulon putters are the best !!!!!
sailfishchris
Oct 19, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Great! I have a lot of putters to sell. I don’t have any on the list! LOL!
Jerry Updike
Oct 19, 2018 at 12:20 pm
So, basically, find what works for you and go with it.
big jones
Oct 19, 2018 at 11:54 am
Bobby Grace is loving this.
John
Oct 25, 2018 at 9:22 pm
The grace v-foil is the best MOI putter of all time.
Bravo Bobby, bravo, you dean of American putter makers.
big jones
Oct 31, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Remember the Fat Lady? I loved it.
Tonda Davis
Oct 19, 2018 at 11:33 am
Where are the LPGA winners?
Chase Goppy
Oct 19, 2018 at 12:56 pm
Who cares?
MikeD
Oct 19, 2018 at 1:56 pm
Great queston. The top putters on the LPGA tour may be better than the men. Their choice of equipment would be very interesting.
Joe
Oct 19, 2018 at 5:27 pm
Sorry but the LPGA players are not better.
DougE
Oct 20, 2018 at 10:25 am
They certainly aren’t worse, imo.
Brad
Oct 19, 2018 at 10:53 am
It would be helpful to also list what grip style (lead-hand low, claw, arm-lock, etc.) they use as well
Carl F Streeter
Oct 19, 2018 at 10:27 am
Reeseo putter, invented by the late Sandy Reeso, is as good as they get. Hard to find but worth the effort.
moses
Oct 19, 2018 at 10:02 am
I love this place. Blame the equiipment. 🙂
Clint
Oct 19, 2018 at 9:51 am
welp, here I am now buying an Odyssey Arm Lock putter
dat
Oct 19, 2018 at 8:38 am
different strokes for different folks