What Rory McIlroy said that earned major thanks from Scottie Scheffler’s equipment team

Scheffler’s putting was considered one of the few areas left to address in his game. He ranked 77th in strokes gained on the greens last year, and it had become a talking point.

During the Genesis Invitational, Rory McIlroy suggested he give a mallet putter a try. Not long after, the Dallas native went on to win at Bay Hill. At the time, he said the switch was already being discussed before McIlroy’s comments.

Even so, TaylorMade fitter Adrian Rietveld told Fore Play Podcast Plus that the Northern Irishman’s input may have helped confirm what they were already thinking.

“It started way before Rory made that comment. It was really a project. I do thank Rory for the comment though. Even if it contributed one percent, it was needed. Because Scottie, he’s a tough switch. He knows what he wants. I’ll take you back to day one of that project. Day one, we visited him at Dallas National, it wasn’t at Royal Oaks where he normally practices.

“It was at Dallas National, I think because they had a really big practice putting green there. And I do remember the conversation. We sat around the table. There were four of us which included his coach and his manager. And basically, what Scottie said to us, he said stop copying the spec of my putter.

“He was playing a competitor putter at the time. He said stop copying this spec, this isn’t my spec. I’ve never been fitted for a putter. So for him, he says if we’re going to do this, it’s going to be a blank slate. You’re going to fit me for a putter like you would – and this is the number one player in the world. I’ll never forget that day.”

He then added: “Now we’re looking at head designs, we’re looking at weight, you think about all the parameters and all the components that go into a putter. It’s 10x any other piece of equipment, in terms of customisation and what works specifically for that player. Then Phil Kenyon comes on board and Phil’s a complete independent at the time. When I say independent, his interest is Scottie Scheffler.

“He’s going to use what’s going to make Phil look and help Phil make Scottie look good. I sent him 15 putters at a time in so many different specs. At one point, we’re working on just the length of the putter and it was like, ‘yeah, but the length changes the swing weight, it changes the feel’. And we’re just literally going down this rabbit hole to a miracle ending where he actually puts in play a putter that we sell off the shelf. Literally, a putter that you can walk into a shop and literally go, ‘I’m having Scottie Scheffler’s putter here’. Imagine that as a company guy.”

Scottie Scheffler’s improvement with the putter over the years

Throughout much of 2024, the growing belief was that if Scheffler could bring his putting up to par with the rest of his game, the rest of the PGA Tour would have a real problem on their hands.

Going into 2025, he had not cracked the top 50 in strokes gained putting even once. But that changed in a big way this season.

This year, he turned into one of the top putters on tour. It was not exactly a shock to see him pick up two more major titles. Now, only the US Open stands between him and a Career Grand Slam.

If he finds another gear with his putter next season, it is tough to see who is going to slow him down.