Equipment

What the 10 best golfers in the world are putting with

Published

10 years ago

Dec 16, 2015

What do the world’s best golfers putt with? It’s an interesting question, albeit one that ought to have little bearing on the average golfer’s selection of putter.

Here’s a tally by putter manufacturer among the top 10:

Odyssey: 3
TaylorMade: 2
Scotty: 3
Ping: 1
Nike: 1

And a breakdown by putter style (blade vs. mallet):

Blade: 8
Mallet: 2

Without further ado, then, here are the top-10 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking, what staff they’re on, what putter they use, and how they placed in strokes gained: putting in 2015.

10. Patrick Reed

Staff: Callaway
Putter: Odyssey White Hot Pro #3
Strokes gained: putting 2015: 19 (.405)
2015 WITB

9. Jim Furyk

Staff: Callaway
Putter: Odyssey Versa #1W (WBW)
Strokes gained: putting 2015: 115 (-.024)
2015 WITB

8. Dustin Johnson

Staff: TaylorMade
Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Newport 2 G.S.S. Prototype
Strokes gained: putting 2015: 70 (.131)
2015 WITB

7. Justin Rose

Staff: TaylorMade
Putter: Rose switches putters frequently, but was most recently spotted with a TaylorMade White Smoke DA-62 Milled Prototype
Strokes gained: putting 2015: 100 (.018)
2016 WITB

6. Rickie Fowler

Staff: Cobra
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Prototype
Strokes gained: putting 2015: 35 (.311)
2016 WITB

5. Henrik Stenson

Staff: Callaway
Putter: Odyssey White Hot XG #7H (Garsen Grip)
Strokes gained: putting 2015: 16 (.435)
2015 WITB

4. Bubba Watson

Staff: Ping
Putter: Ping Milled Anser 1
Strokes gained: putting 2015: 54 (.209)
2016 WITB

3. Rory McIlroy

Staff: Nike
Putter: Nike Method Origin B201 (prototype)
Strokes gained: putting 2015: 126* (-.070) (*McIlroy didn’t play enough rounds to officially place statistically)
2015 WITB

2. Jason Day

Staff: TaylorMade
Putter: TaylorMade Ghost Spider IB Black Prototype
Strokes gained: putting 2015: 6 (.585)
2015 WITB

1. Jordan Spieth

Staff: Titleist
Putter: Scotty Cameron 009 Prototype (SuperStroke Flatso Ultra grip)
Strokes gained: putting 2015: 8 (.572)
2016 WITB

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

33 Comments

Desmond

Dec 18, 2015 at 9:40 am

Okay, let’s get this right (generally) — it does not matter in terms of performance to any golfer what another golfer is using in his bag, especially the putter or the maker of the putter. Pros are bought and sold, the power of suggestion is strong with them, and golfers, unfortunately, buy into the power of suggestion. The way you aim a putter varies with the shape of the head, offset, lines, length, etc. The weight of the putter, the shaft, the counterweight, etc depends on your stroke, tempo and whether the putter is keeping up with your hands. So while it may be interesting for some, what someone else uses, pro or am, is not relevant to the performance or fit of any one golfer.

Reply Report comment
- graymulligan
  
  Dec 18, 2015 at 10:04 am
  
  So the two guys that are using a putter that the company who “bought” them doesn’t make…how does that work by your logic? I hate this argument. Almost every tour pro with a contract from the big 4/5 companies has a clause that they can put other manufacturers clubs in the bag. It’s one of the reasons we see all of these prototypes and one-offs, where a company copies something someone else is making to get it into their pro’s bag.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Desmond
    
    Dec 18, 2015 at 8:02 pm
    
    I said “generally”, and your point is not my principal point. Hope that helps.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Alex
  
  Dec 18, 2015 at 2:15 pm
  
  Technology is hardly of use for the putting stroke. It’s the most mental part of the game. Applying a lot of tech to a putter is like technology on pool cues. The rest of it is marketing and consumer stuff.
  
  You find a putter you like and voilá. And if you’re a poor putter, it’s all in the head.
  
  Reply Report comment
slider

Dec 17, 2015 at 10:18 pm

rorys putter looks very similar to the Cameron that he won two majors with and maybe DJ should consider a new putter it was a tough 3 putt at chambers for him

Reply Report comment
- Tom
  
  Dec 18, 2015 at 12:31 pm
  
  It’s the Indian not the arrow.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jay
    
    Dec 18, 2015 at 3:00 pm
    
    Can DJ get a new Indian??
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Tom
      
      Dec 19, 2015 at 12:38 pm
      
      ROFLMAO
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Joe
        
        Jan 3, 2016 at 2:44 am
        
        Native American.
        
        Reply Report comment
Alex

Dec 17, 2015 at 9:33 am

Most great putters have always used blades. Best touch, especially with a thin grip, and the simplest alignment.

Reply Report comment
Benny

Dec 17, 2015 at 8:03 am

This is an awesome article btw. Really interesting to see and the added list our members brought in. So cool and great info! Thx fellas/wrx!

Reply Report comment
Benny

Dec 17, 2015 at 8:02 am

Spencer I don’t know the name of the device around Fyurk’s ball but you can see the STMP ramp next to it. He is using both devices to calculate distances by measuring his stroke. Example: if he pulls back 6″ then he strokes through 6″ and then measuring that distance and compares that with the STMP. It’s like the old “hip to hip” swing with a wedge and measuring that distance. I know hip to hip with my 60* is 50 yards all day long. Its breaking down distances in a calculated way. It’s important to always have the same speed and same back stroke as thru stroke/swing. One reason why Jimmy is a top putter, as anal as he is.

Reply Report comment
- TheCityGame
  
  Dec 17, 2015 at 9:30 am
  
  Did you just call Furyk a top putter? He was 115th in strokes gained putting last year. He loses strokes to the field on average. If he was a good putter, he’d have about 5 majors and 30 wins. Furyk has been a top 5/top 10 ball striker for years (going by “strokes gained tee to green”).
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Benny
    
    Dec 17, 2015 at 12:11 pm
    
    Yeah.. 115 in the world strokes gained sure does suck. So does 15 Tour wins, 1 major and the Fedex cup too.. He must not know how to make any putts…
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Desmond
      
      Dec 19, 2015 at 6:03 am
      
      Well, if you follow Furyk and his history of finishing second and top 5’s, you will see that putting is his Achilles heel – I think that is the poster’s point. Furyk has about 30 second place finishes…
      
      Reply Report comment
    - .?????
      
      Dec 20, 2015 at 9:39 pm
      
      No one said he sucked. When it comes to world class golfers, furyk is a below average putter. It’s really not heard to understand
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Benny
        
        Dec 29, 2015 at 11:49 am
        
        What’s so “heard” is that I say “thats why he is a top putter” and you guys jump on my back as if I said something crazy!! I didn’t say “world clase”, nor did I say “top ten” (if you want to get literal), I said top putter. I feel like all of you are little boys looking up punching me in the shins yapping your stats. Jim is on here for a reason so I have the right to say he is a TOP Putter! Now go and cry to mommy while I get back to work..
        
        Reply Report comment
Spencer

Dec 16, 2015 at 9:40 pm

Anyone know what the training aid around the ball in the Furyk picture is?

Reply Report comment
- middie8
  
  Dec 18, 2015 at 9:28 am
  
  its called the perfect putter. that is the ramp thingy next to him. the “h” looking thing on the ball comes with it/
  
  Reply Report comment
Spencer

Dec 16, 2015 at 9:39 pm

Anyone know what that training aid is around the ball in the Furyk picture?

Reply Report comment
Brad

Dec 16, 2015 at 8:24 pm

Is that a ding in the topline of Spieth’s 009 to the heel side of the alignment mark?

Reply Report comment
Dj

Dec 16, 2015 at 2:21 pm

That Nike putter is really nice looking. Can’t wait for it!

Reply Report comment
- Steve
  
  Dec 16, 2015 at 3:05 pm
  
  It looks like it came out of a kids set
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jay
    
    Dec 18, 2015 at 3:01 pm
    
    Looks like it came out of Cameron’s workshop, then stamped Nike
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Nor
      
      Dec 19, 2015 at 3:00 am
      
      They both came right off PING’s factory, no need to fight.
      
      Reply Report comment
Tim

Dec 16, 2015 at 1:07 pm

1 Aaron Baddeley (.717) Yes! Callie (Anser copy)
2 Jimmy Walker (.690) Cameron Newport 2
3 Daniel Summerhays (.642) Ping Karsen TR B60
4 Lee Westwood (.598) Cadence TR Ketsch Mid Heavy
5 Brandt Snedeker (.586) Odyssey Rossie
6 Jason Day (.585) TaylorMade Ghost Spider IB Black Prototype
7 Brendon Todd (.584) Rife Titan
8 Jordan Spieth (.572) Cameron 009
9 Russell Henley (.570) Method 001 Long Neck Prototype
10 Harris English (.556) White Hot Pro 2-Ball

Reply Report comment
- TheCityGame
  
  Dec 16, 2015 at 2:53 pm
  
  Pretty interesting that five or six — depending on what you call the B60 — of these guys use a mallet.
  
  There might be models of the White Hot that aren’t mallets, but English does use a mallet version. Used to use a Versa mallet. . .I believe.
  
  Reply Report comment
- john
  
  Dec 17, 2015 at 12:03 am
  
  baddeley is actually using some weird Axis putter
  
  Reply Report comment
Chuck

Dec 16, 2015 at 12:11 pm

I thought it would be interesting to see “what the 10 best PUTTERS in the world use to putt with.” There might be some overlap. You don’t get to be a WGR Top 10 without being a great (not merely good) putter.

And it is a bit of a challenge to even establish a “Best 10 Putters” list. The obvious thing is to go off the “Strokes Gained Putting” stat from the Tour. (But you lose everybody who isn’t a Tour member.) Here’s what that list looks like:

1 Aaron Baddeley (.717)
2 Jimmy Walker (.690)
3 Daniel Summerhays (.642)
4 Lee Westwood (.598)
5 Brandt Snedeker (.586)
6 Jason Day (.585)
7 Brendon Todd (.584)
8 Jordan Spieth (.572)
9 Russell Henley (.570)
10 Harris English (.556)

Why are Jason Day and Jordan Spieth so dominant in the WGR? Obviously, part of the reason is that they are among the best putters in the world. They are also terrifically powerful (Day) and reliable (Spieth) ball strikers. But that’s the only overlap. The all-world Spieth and Day. I’ll let the Board fill in the details on the putters used by the other Top 10 putters.

Reply Report comment
Richie Hunt

Dec 16, 2015 at 12:06 pm

I would be interested to see what the top-10 in Strokes Gained – Putting are putting with.

Reply Report comment
- Chuck
  
  Dec 16, 2015 at 12:13 pm
  
  lol; I was writing (and looking at stats) while you posted, Richie.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jeremy
  
  Dec 16, 2015 at 12:18 pm
  
  Westwood is up there?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - kevin
    
    Dec 17, 2015 at 7:46 pm
    
    Westwood is up there.. been moving in that direction for over a year
    
    Reply Report comment

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Whats in the Bag

Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)

Published

4 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100

Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.

Equipment

TaylorMade MySpider Tour and Tour X: More customizable build options now available

Published

4 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.

The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.

One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.

Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.

See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:

MySpider Tour

MySpider Tour X

Equipment

Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.

McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.

So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?

Driver

2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)

McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.

What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)

The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.

Fairway woods

2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X

The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.

The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.

Irons

2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0

The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.

With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.

Wedges

2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.

Putter

2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.

Ball

2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)

As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

Grips

2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC

Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.