Tom Kim has changed his putter again just days before the start of the FedExCup Playoffs. The 23-year-old tested a new Scotty Cameron mallet putter at the 3M Open, marking yet another switch in a season filled with equipment changes. It’s the latest move in what’s becoming a troubling trend for Kim, who still can’t seem to find the right putter.
Kim Changes Putter Again Ahead of FedEx Playoffs
Kim started the 2025 season using the same putter he finished 2024 with — a Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.2 mallet. He stuck with it through the Sony Open in Hawaii and The American Express. However, he made a change at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, switching to a Scotty Cameron Studio Style blade putter with a new face design.
The 23-year-old then made another switch at The Players Championship, opting for a Newport-style putter with a bronze finish and a milled face. But Kim’s search for the right fit didn’t end there. At the Valero Texas Open, Kim changed his putter again, but this time the new putter stuck around for a while. He went with a Scotty Cameron Fastback 1.5, featuring a silver and black design on the top, which he used for the next 11 events, including major tournaments like the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the Genesis Scottish Open.
But the run didn’t last. When Kim arrived at Royal Portrush for The Open Championship, he began testing putters from different brands. He eventually settled on a TaylorMade Spider Tour X — the same model that Scottie Scheffler has used successfully for over a year. But after missing the cut at The Open, Kim showed up at the 3M Open in Minnesota to try even more putters.
The issue of Kim’s putter came into the spotlight again this week at the 3M Open, where Kim was seen testing yet another new putter ahead of the FedExCup Playoffs-a new Scotty Cameron mallet made specifically for him-the Xperimental 3.2 “TK 1 PTYPE.” He also tried another TaylorMade Spider Tour model, this one with a single white alignment line on top.
Kim Still Searching For a Putter he Can Trust
While most top players settle on a model they like and stick with it for years, Kim continues to tinker. His putter choices change from one event to the next — and sometimes even during a tournament. So why can’t Kim find the right fit after so many changes?
Kim currently occupies the No. 94 spot in the FedExCup standings. He’s under pressure to perform and at risk of losing his PGA TOUR card. Kim has been honest about his putting struggles. While he continues to work on his stroke, he’s admitted that he hasn’t yet found a setup that gives him complete trust.
Main Photo Credit: © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
