Scottie Scheffler’s big equipment changes paying off so far at Hero World Challenge

If you have any doubt about how good Scottie Scheffler’s ball striking was last season, consider this: Scheffler led the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained:  Total with an average of 2.314, even though he ranked No. 162 in Strokes Gained: Putting (-0.301). In other words, Scheffler was so good with his driver, irons and wedges, he had the lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour even though he was giving away shots on the green.

You may not have been aware of that, but Scheffler sure was. Most weeks before PGA Tour events, he was on the practice green, grinding, and he made a few putter changes along the way. Scheffler benched the Scotty Cameron Special Select Timeless Tour prototype he used to win the Players Championship in favor of a TaylorMade Spider Milled prototype at the end of the season, then putt the heel-toe weighted blade back into play.

This week, as Scheffler contends at the Hero World Challenge, the world’s No. 1 player is not only using a new TaylorMade Qi10 LS driver, the same club Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are using, the former University of Texas star is also using a new putter, a heel-toe weighted blade made by Olson Putter Co.

Logan Olsen, who founded the company, also makes each putter his company offers by hand. The company’s Instagram is filled with images of customized and prototype putters with exotic necks, unique finishes and one-of-a-kind styling. Olsen also makes metal divot tools and ball makers.

Scheffler’s putter shape is clearly modeled after the Ping Anser 2, with a classic heel-toe weighted blade shape, angular back bumpers and a thin topline. Along with the black alignment line, there appears to be a series of mill marks on the topline that would be slightly-narrower than the width of a ball. On the tri-sole, the numbers 343 and 303 have been stamped in the toe, along with Scottie Scheffler’s name. Those numbers likely refer to the weight of the head, 343 grams, and the material used, 303 stainless steel, but that has not been confirmed.

There are only 20 players in the Hero World Challenge, which is being played at the Albany in The Bahamas and hosted by Tiger Woods, but after shooting rounds of 69 and 65, Scheffler enters the third round tied for the lead and is putting well. He ranks fifth in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (2.491). He made three putts on Thursday from beyond 20 feet, along with a 17-footer and another putt from 20 feet out Friday.