The Masters: Two major champions poised to switch to mallet putters

Brooks Koepka and Collin Morikawa are both set to be using mallet putters at this year’s Masters, in a change from their classic blade style.

Koepka, who is aiming to claim his sixth major championship this week, made the switch to a Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 shape last week at LIV Golf Doral. Although that didn’t show instant results, Koepka looks set to stick with it for the year’s first major.

Koepka shot two rounds of 77 over the weekend in his final rounds before the Augusta National tournament, but the putter still looks to be in play.

That wasn’t before some deliberation during the build-up to the tournament, however, with Koepka spotted with his Scotty Cameron blade, after saying on NBC Sports that he was comfortable with his new mallet.

Nevertheless, his choice looks to be set, after he was wielding the larger head shape in Wednesday’s Par-3 Contest. Are the days of Brooks Koepka holing everything with his Scotty Cameron blade in a major championship over?

Meanwhile, Collin Morikawa looks to be hoping to emulate his TaylorMade compatriot Scottie Scheffler in benefitting from the brand’s Spider range.

The 2021 Open champion was seen using a TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter in the Par-3 Contest at Augusta National. That’s the same model that Scottie Scheffler has recently switched to, with some great results. The putter has helped Scheffler to two wins and a runner-up finish, with his putting stats improving exponentially.

Morikawa will be hoping for a similar boost from the putter, but it’s not the first change he’s made in that part of the bag this year. Only last month he swapped his TaylorMade Soto blade out for a Logan Olson prototype blade.

That, however, now seems to be out of the bag in place of something that offers a higher level of moment of inertia on the greens.

A look at Morikawa’s stats on the greens this year make it no surprise that he’s chopping and changing the flatstick. This season on the PGA Tour, the two-time major champ is ranked 164th in Strokes Gained: Putting. That will need to improve if he’s going to be wearing green on Sunday.

Either way, both will be waiting longer than anticipated to get their Masters underway. Tee times have been delayed and you can see the latest draw here.

Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor