The world of professional golf is often a crucible of intense competition, mutual respect, and occasional mind games. This week, a fascinating subplot emerged not on the fairways, but in the press room, as World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler found himself directly refuting a claim made by his closest rival, Rory McIlroy.
The dispute centers on a seemingly innocuous piece of equipment: a TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter. The story began when Rory McIlroy, speaking to the media ahead of the Travelers Championship, was asked about the current disparity between his and Scheffler’s performances on the greens.
McIlroy, who has been vocal about his own putting struggles, praised Scheffler’s remarkable ball-striking before turning to his flatstick. He then revealed a specific piece of information.
“I think he’s using one of the Spider putters,” McIlroy stated. “He was using a 2-Ball and then he’s gone to a Spider, which is very similar to what I use. So I’d say we’re using very similar-looking putters at the minute.”
This comment was picked up by golf media and quickly circulated, adding a layer of intrigue to their rivalry. If the two best players in the world were using similar equipment, perhaps it underscored the fine margins at the top of the game.
There was just one problem: McIlroy’s information was incorrect.
When Scottie Scheffler faced the press a day later, he was inevitably asked about McIlroy’s claim. His response was polite, firm, and left no room for ambiguity.
“It’s not true,” Scheffler said with a slight smile. “I’ve never used a Spider putter. I’ve never tested one. I’ve never had one. I use a [Scotty Cameron] Circle T 2-Ball. I’ve used the same one for the last three years.”
With that, Scheffler cleared the air. The putter in his bag is not a TaylorMade Spider but his trusted Scotty Cameron prototype, a model he has wielded to capture two Masters titles, The Players Championship, and numerous other victories during his dominant run.
So, how did the mix-up occur? The confusion likely stems from the visual design. Scheffler’s Scotty Cameron 2-Ball and McIlroy’s TaylorMade Spider X share a similar “mallet” head shape with alignment aids that feature two circles or discs. To the casual observer from a distance, they can appear strikingly similar, especially on television broadcasts.
The incident, while minor, is a curious glimpse into the dynamics at the pinnacle of sport. It shows that even the best players in the world are keenly aware of each other’s equipment choices, searching for any insight that might explain a competitor’s success. For McIlroy, it was an honest assumption based on a visual cue. For Scheffler, it was a matter of setting the record straight about the tool he has used to craft one of the most statistically dominant seasons in recent memory.
Ultimately, the exchange was handled with the professionalism and respect that defines their relationship. There was no malice in McIlroy’s error, and no irritation in Scheffler’s correction. It was simply a case of two athletes, under the microscope, clarifying the details of their craft.
The real truth, as Scheffler confirmed, is that his putting success isn’t down to a new magic wand from TaylorMade. It’s the result of relentless work with the same trusted club, a testament to the old adage: it’s not the arrow, it’s the archer. And right now, Scottie Scheffler is hitting the target better than anyone else.
Anjlena