The 2026 PGA Tour season ended with a clear pattern in the hands of the winners. Chris Gotterup started the year in Hawaii with a TaylorMade Spider putter, and Scottie Scheffler closed it in Atlanta with the same model to win the FedExCup. GolfWRX tracked every single victory to show which clubs actually get the job done on Sunday.
The data reveals a split between the big mallets and the classic blades. Some players chose stability, while others went for feel. The list includes names like Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, and Wyndham Clark. Each winner picked a specific model that matched their stroke. There is no single best putter for everyone, but the numbers show what works for the pros right now.
Scottie Scheffler proved his choice at the Tour Championship. He used the TaylorMade Spider Tour X to claim the title by three shots. GolfWRX reports that while he placed 11th in strokes gained off the tee that week, his putting proved to be the deciding factor. The Spider Tour X offers a high moment of inertia, which helps keep the face square on off-center hits.
This stability matters when you are under pressure in the final round. Scheffler also used this putter at the FedEx St. Jude Championship earlier in the season. He knows what works, and he sticks with it. The consistency of his equipment choice mirrors his consistency on the course.
The Battle Between Mallets and Blades
Not every winner chose the big mallet style. Wyndham Clark won the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills with a Ping Scottsdale Tec Ally Blue Onset CB. This is a blade-style putter with a distinct look. He also used this same model to win the BMW Championship and The CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
GolfWRX notes that Clark has found great success with this specific Ping design. It offers a different feel than the Spider models. The weight distribution is lower and more traditional. This choice shows that a player does not need the biggest head to win the biggest tournaments.
Other players followed the mallet trend. Aaron Rai won the PGA Championship with a TaylorMade Spider Tour V. Matt Fitzpatrick took the RBC Heritage title using a Bettinardi BB1. The Bettinardi is a classic blade, proving that old-school designs still have a place on tour. Tom Kim used a Scotty Cameron TourType Timeless GSS prototype to win the Genesis Scottish Open.
These choices highlight the variety in the game. Some players want the heavy feel of a mallet, while others prefer the precision of a blade. The key is matching the tool to the player’s unique stroke. There is no one-size-fits-all solution in golf.
The data from GolfWRX shows that TaylorMade and Ping are the top brands for winners this season. TaylorMade putters appeared in the hands of Scheffler, Gotterup, Rai, and McIlroy among others. Ping models were used by Clark, Hovland, and Reitan. The competition between these brands is fierce.
Each manufacturer offers multiple prototypes and custom versions. Michael Brennan used a Scotty Cameron Golo 6 Tour prototype for the Wyndham Championship. Jackson Koivun relied on a Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5R Tour prototype for the 3M Open. These specific prototypes are often not available to the general public. They are built just for the tour player.
Why the Putter Matters Most
You might think the driver is the most important club in the bag. That is a common mistake. The putter is used more than any other club in a round. It is the only club where you are not trying to hit a ball far away. You are trying to hit it into a small hole. A small mistake on a putt costs you a stroke. A small mistake on a drive might just put you in the rough. The putter determines your score on every hole. This is why the pros spend so much time testing different models.
Consider the difference between a Spider and a Blade. The Spider has a high moment of inertia. This means it twists less when you hit the ball off-center. It helps you make more putts even if your stroke is not perfect. The Blade putter offers a softer feel. It gives the player more feedback on the strike. Some players need that feedback to control their speed. Others need the stability of the mallet to keep their line. The choice depends on the player’s brain and their hands. There is no right or wrong answer, only what works for you.
The 2026 season showed that technology helps, but skill wins. The putters listed by GolfWRX are high-tech pieces of equipment. They use advanced materials like carbon composite and milled faces. But a bad player with a $1,000 putter will still lose to a good player with a basic one. The equipment supports the talent. It does not create it. When you see a winner hold up their trophy, look at the putter in their hand. It is the tool that helped them finish the job. The list of winners proves that the right fit is the most important factor in the game.
Scottie Scheffler’s win at East Lake was the capstone of a dominant year. He used the TaylorMade Spider Tour X to seal the deal. His driving was strong, but his putting was the key. GolfWRX reported that he was eighth in driving distance and 13th in fairways hit. Yet, his putting performance on the greens was what secured the FedExCup.
The putter he chose gave him the confidence he needed. This is the ultimate test of any piece of equipment. Does it help you win when it matters most? For Scheffler, the answer was yes.
