Putting Challenge for Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler, touted as hitting the ball as well as anyone since Tiger Woods’ prime, is facing a perplexing challenge: he can’t seem to clinch tournament victories. Despite holding the prestigious World No. 1 title, Scheffler hasn’t hoisted an official trophy since his triumph at The Players Championship nearly a year ago. His woes on the greens persist, prompting a recent change in his equipment setup, as reported by Golf.com’s Jonathan Wall.

The 2022 Masters Tournament champion’s struggles with putting have been evident, prompting speculation and even jests from fellow players like Rory McIlroy. At the Genesis Invitational, McIlroy humorously remarked on Scheffler’s choice of putter, suggesting that switching to a mallet putter could potentially benefit him and level the playing field for competitors.

With his putting coach Phil Kenyon overseeing the adjustment, Scheffler was spotted testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (X1) mallet putter on the practice green before a tournament. This shift marks a significant departure from his previous blade putter, signaling a willingness to explore new strategies to overcome his putting woes.

While casual viewers may question the hype surrounding Scheffler, his statistics speak volumes about his prowess from tee-to-green. Ranked second in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, first in Strokes Gained: Approach, and second in Strokes Gained: Around the Green in the past year, Scheffler’s ball striking is unmatched. However, his Achilles’ heel lies in putting, where he ranks a dismal 198th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Despite his remarkable consistency, evidenced by a staggering 30 consecutive made cuts and 23 top 10 finishes, Scheffler’s inability to capitalize on his stellar ball striking has hindered his quest for victories. With his recent struggles at Riviera, where he lost 4.4 strokes to the field with his putter, Scheffler’s determination to address his putting deficiencies is evident.

The TaylorMade Spider-X putter, chosen by Scheffler for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, is a well-known favorite among PGA Tour players, including major champions like Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, and Jason Day. By embracing this change, Scheffler aims to transform his putting game and translate his remarkable ball striking into coveted tournament victories.