Having the right putter is like having the right partner. If you find a good one, it will make your life a whole lot easier.
With that being said, a number of players in the top-10 have switched putters a few times this season, while others have managed to find one that works and stuck with it.
From TaylorMade to Scotty Cameron, there is a wide range of different brands and shapes on offer, with one player even opting to utilise the benefits of artificial intelligence to help him out on the greens.
So, if you're in the market for a new putter, perhaps you can gain some inspiration from the best in the world.
Let's get into it.
Scottie Scheffler
1. Scottie Scheffler
Putter: Scotty Cameron Special Select Timeless Tourtype GSS tour prototype
Having experienced a truly shocking putting year, Scheffler has chopped and changed regularly between putters. Typically using a Scotty Cameron Select Prototype, Scheffler has also tinkered with a few TaylorMade Spiders as well.
It appears Scheffler is sticking with Scotty Cameron for the time being, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the world number 1 testing a few alternatives in the off-season.
Scheffler was ranked 155th in strokes gained putting on the PGA Tour this season, and those who watched the Ryder Cup will have seen first-hand just how shaky he is on the short grass.
Rory McIlroy
2. Rory McIlroy
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Hydro Blast Putter
Another player who switched between putters during the 2023 season, McIlroy, was trialling a Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 during 2023 but eventually opted to revert back to his trusty TaylorMade Spider X.
While McIlroy enjoyed a successful year, his putting was probably the weakest part of his game, finishing the year ranked 66th in strokes gained putting.
Jon Rahm
3. Jon Rahm
Putter: Odyssey Ai ONE Rossie
One of the most interesting equipment stories of 2023, Rahm decided to make a significant equipment change before the 2023 Ryder Cup, dropping his faithful Odyssey Rossie putter for a newly revamped Odyssey Ai One Rossie.
The new Ai One range has only just arrived, and it features an insert specifically engineered by Artificial Intelligence and Callaway's supercomputer to provide more consistent ball speeds on off-centre strikes.
Rahm was in imperious form with the putter at Marco Simone Country Club, and if that performance is anything to go by, 2024 could be a big year for both the Ai-ONE range and Rahm.
PING Hovi
4. Viktor Hovland
Putter: Ping PLD DS72 putter
Viktor Hovland uses a PING PLD D272 that has been so successful for him that PING decided to create a limited edition release of the Hovi putter designed to Hovland's exact specs.
Hovland's version of the PLD DS72 might be looking a little worse for wear these days, having picked up a fair bit of rust, but it still does the job, as he enjoyed an outstanding year, winning three times on the PGA Tour, including the FedExCup.
Hovland was also in fine form with the flat stick at the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Country Club.
Patrick Cantlay
5. Patrick Cantlay
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Patrick Cantlay is a Titleist man through and through, and he uses one of Scotty Cameron's higher MOI putters, the T-5 Proto. Designed to Cantlay's exact spec, the T-5 Proto is not available to purchase for mere mortals, however, for those who want to buy something similar, the Scotty Cameron Phantom X5.5 is about as close as you can get.
Xander Schauffele
6. Xander Schauffele
Putter: Odyssey Toulon Prototype 7CH Putter
One of the finest putters on the PGA Tour, Xander Schauffele, uses another prototype putter, this time made by Odyssey. The highly recognisable red design has been one of Schauffele's deadliest weapons this year, and despite not managing to add to his win title, he did record 11 top-10 finishes.
Lethal with the putter in hand, Schauffele finsihed the year 5th in strokes gained putting.
Matthew Fitzpatrick
7. Matthew Fitzpatrick
Putter: Bettinardi BB1 Fitz
Another player who uses a signature putter, Matthew Fitzpatrick, has been a loyal Bettinardi user for many years now, and it's clearly a match made in heaven, as he has been one of the most consistent putters on Tour for some time now.
Fitzpatrick's excellent touch with his putter was on full display for the world to see during the 2023 Ryder Cup, when he went on an incredible streak during Saturday's four-ball matches, holing almost every putt he had.
Max Homa
8. Max Homa
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5.5 Proto
Similarly to Cantlay, Homa also uses a Scotty Cameron T-5.5 Proto. The high MOI fang designed putter was utilised with devastating effect by Homa in 2023, as he won two times on the PGA Tour and finished the season as the 6th best putter on Tour.
Brian Harman
9. Brian Harman
Putter: TaylorMade Spider OS CB
Brian Harman uses the TaylorMade Spider OS CB, one of the highest MOI putters on this list. The enlarged head on the Spider OS is designed to be very forgiving and increase stability at impact.
Harman was ranked the 7th best putter on Tour this season, and when it comes to short putts, few are better. Harman was ranked the number one putter for putts of six feet, holing a staggering 91.5% of his 59 attempts from that range.
Wyndham Clark
10. Wyndham Clark
Putter: Odyssey Jailbird Versa
2023 was the year of the Odyssey Jailbird Versa. Nine years after it was first released, Wyndham Clark, Rickie Fowler and Keegan Bradley all won on Tour with the putter, causing Odyssey to re-release it.
While both Fowler and Bradley both had a successful season, Clark was head and shoulders above them thanks to his win at the US Open.
Clark enjoyed a very solid season with the putter, and thanks to him, the Jailbird Versa has become increasingly popular amongst fellow pros and amateurs alike.
