How Chris Kirk’s caddie helped design his new putter

Chris Kirk Reveals the Crucial Role His Caddie Michael Cromie Played in Designing His New Putter

Chris Kirk, a six-time PGA Tour winner, recently revealed a unique and valuable contribution from his caddie, Michael Cromie, that has already started to make an impact on his game. Ahead of the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Tennessee, Cromie surprised Kirk with a specially designed putter, a gesture that underscores the unusual yet highly effective dynamic between the player and his caddie.

Cromie, who not only supports Kirk on the course but also contributes strategically to his game, took the initiative to design a new putter with the help of TOUR Odyssey representative Cody Hale. This collaboration resulted in a custom-made putter that Kirk has already started using during the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs.

Kirk has spoken highly of Cromie’s efforts, particularly highlighting Cromie’s proficiency with AimPoint, a green-reading technique that has become an integral part of their strategy. Kirk noted, “Michael (Cromie) is doing a really good job with AimPoint, which is kind of new for us.” He shared an amusing anecdote from The Open, where viewers at home might have noticed their unorthodox routine. “People watching on TV at home at The Open were kind of laughing because they see me – Michael is reading the putt, I don’t like for him to hold the flag while he’s doing it because I feel like it might mess up his balance a little bit, so I’m off to the side holding the flag, looking in the crowd or whatever, just waiting for him to point at where he wants me to line the putt up.”

Kirk has embraced this approach, finding it mentally liberating. “It’s gone really well,” he added. “It mentally has been very freeing for me because I can just focus on hitting a good putt down that line and watching that line spiral. I’ve really enjoyed the change, and today was certainly a good day for it.”

The putter itself, dubbed the “Chris Kirk No. 7” by Kirk, features a distinctive design that blends familiarity with modern advancements. “The putter I’m using was something that Michael, my caddie – it was kind of his idea, along with (Hale)… and they kind of got together and talked about something that they thought I would like,” Kirk explained. The result was a variation of the No. 7 T putter head, customized with a unique neck and a clean, sightline-free paint job.

Kirk further elaborated on the significance of the new putter, comparing it to a previous model that had brought him success. “(It) had some similarities to one that I’ve had some success with in the past, but a little bit kind of added stability versus the one that I was putting with, that I used at the U.S. Open and through (The Open),” he said. The new putter represents an updated version of a beloved tool, offering enhanced stability and modern technology.

This is not the first time Kirk and Cromie have garnered attention for their unconventional methods. Earlier in the season, following a victory at The Sentry, the duo made headlines during THE PLAYERS Championship for their unusual strategy of keeping Kirk composed during play. Their approach often includes discussing a wide range of topics unrelated to golf, such as general knowledge, music, and even Civil War history, a technique that helps Kirk maintain focus and ease on the course.

The partnership between Kirk and Cromie is a testament to the importance of a strong player-caddie relationship, where trust, innovation, and a bit of creativity can lead to significant improvements in performance. As they continue to refine their strategies and equipment, it will be interesting to see how this dynamic duo fares in the remainder of the FedExCup Playoffs and beyond.