Sports
Tom Kim Makes a Putter Switch for the Olympics
South Korea’s Tom Kim has decided to switch things up with a brand-new putter for the men’s Olympic golf competition taking place in France. This time, he’s gone for the Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.2, a move that’s had golf fans buzzing.
In the past, Kim has mostly relied on a blade-style putter during his PGA TOUR career. However, he’s also dabbled in different types of putters, and this week, he made an on-the-spot decision to try out a mallet putter.
Just before the opening round at Le Golf National, the 22-year-old golfer opted for the new putter, and it really paid off. He finished with an impressive 5-under 66, putting him in a strong position, only trailing Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who shot a 63, and Xander Schauffele of the United States with a 65.
After his first round at the Paris Games, Kim shared his thoughts on the switch. He mentioned, “It kind of just gave me a different feel over the ball. I definitely put a lot of work into it after the Open Championship, and it performed well.” He added that the switch wasn’t really planned; it just ended up working out better for him.
Kim started testing the Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.2 after it gained some attention when Justin Thomas used it at the Genesis Scottish Open. Brad Cloke, who represents Scotty Cameron, noted that this particular mallet was inspired by various players and was similar to Justin Thomas’s setup.
Tom Kim’s participation in the TOUR Championship happened last season, and many believe this new putter could help him improve his world ranking and make it into the top 30.
One of the standout features of the Phantom 9.2 is the plumber’s neck inset, typically found on classic blade putters. This design gives Kim a connection to the blade style while still benefiting from the forgiveness of the mallet head, which is a significant reason for his switch.
Brad Cloke explained that the plumber’s neck offers Kim a nice balance, giving him the familiar feel of using a blade while gaining the advantages that come with using a mallet. It seems like this change could be a game-changer for Kim in his Olympic quest.
