Like everyone else, Tom Kim has seen how successful mallet putters have been at the highest levels of professional golf.
For a player who won his first three PGA Tour events with a blade-model putter, Kim began experimenting with different putters over the past three seasons, including both mallets and blades.
But earlier this spring, Kim decided to get back to what works and switched to a Scotty Cameron Newport style 2 blade with a custom LA Golf graphite machine.
That decision paid off big as Kim regained form this summer, culminating in a two-shot victory last week at the Genesis Scottish Open, ending a three-year winless drought.
“I’ve been putting my best foot forward with the blade,” Kim said of her return to the machine in March. “I’ve been using a hammer for a few years, but I’ve won a lot of my tournaments with a ladder, and I wanted to come back, I’m going to use something natural. [Director of Player Fitting and Development] Paul [Vizanko] it really helped me with this piece and it looks great in mint blue [paintfill].”
The exact putter, a TourType GSS tour prototype, is the same one Kim used in his first PGA Tour win at the 2022 Wyndham Championship. He then used different Newport 2 putters to win his next two tour events.
Scotty Cameron Style Studio Newport 2 Putter
STUDIO CARBON STEEL (SCS) FACE INSERT Designed to deliver an unmistakably soft sound and carbon feel, the new precision milled Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) insert is treated with electroless nickel plating for increased durability in a redesigned concept that includes a new line of chain-link face milling and vibspace face milling technology and an aerospace feel. CHEIN-LINK FACE TECHNOLOGY The new chain-link face milling technology reduces the contact areas of the putter face insert by contacting the ball using a texture that dampens noise and provides improved roll characteristics while maintaining feel and response on the putter face. SLIM GRIP FOR FULL CONTACT With a comfortable chain-link texture to match the new grind pattern of the putter face, the custom-designed Full Contact Slim paddle style grip is designed to complement the stroke and performance of blade and millet putters. Its distinctive profile and flat top provide maximum comfort and contact between hands and putter, as well as improved body alignment.
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA TOUR Superstore, Titleist
He also installed a custom player in March and hasn’t wavered since. Last week in Scotland, Kim placed 20th in Stokes Achieved: Putting, taking 3.658 strokes per week and rolling 296 meters of putts. Those numbers were even better in his final round of 64, when he scored 2.328 strokes, which was sixth best in the field.
Kim joins Matt Fitzpatrick as the only players to win on Tour this season while using a blade putter, as pros have come to appreciate the alignment and forgiveness benefits of the mallet.
But not everyone will do better with something bigger, and some players may have an emotional connection to the shape of the blade, which is why the category may not be going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
