Tom Kim Shines with New Putter at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Tom Kim is making waves at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this week, showcasing his new Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 putter on the iconic poa annua greens of Pebble Beach Golf Links. The 21-year-old golfer, who debuted the putter in Monday’s TGL match, is currently in fourth place at the tournament’s halfway point, just four shots behind leader Sepp Straka.

Kim’s switch to a blade putter marks a return to the style he used during his three PGA TOUR victories. After experimenting with a mallet putter, Kim decided to go back to what felt most natural. “I just felt like I needed something a little bit more consistent and something that I’ve won with,” Kim said Friday. “It’s not exactly the same blade that I’ve been using, it’s a little different. But I think transitioning from the mallet — some of my lines, I started to really like a different type of line than I used to.”

The new putter features a unique alignment aid and a thinner grip, designed to enhance Kim’s feel and creativity on the greens. According to Scotty Cameron TOUR rep Brad Cloke, the blade putter helps Kim regain “face awareness,” a crucial element in putting that he had started to lose with the mallet. “What the blade does for him is it gives him some creativity back, some freedom in the stroke,” Cloke explained.

Kim’s performance this week has been stellar, ranking fifth in Strokes Gained: Putting (+3.14) after shooting a 65 on Friday. His clutch putting has drawn comparisons to his standout performances in the Presidents Cup, where he displayed similar poise under pressure.

The new Studio Style putters, including Kim’s, feature a face insert made with Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) for a softer feel and a unique chain-link face milling pattern. Kim’s putter also has a distinctive alignment aid, with a white line atop the putterhead that runs parallel to the face and a shorter line pointing toward the target. This design, inspired by a putter belonging to PGA TOUR rookie Tim Widing, has proven effective for Kim, who recently stopped using the line on his ball to align putts.

Kim’s switch back to a blade putter and his success at Pebble Beach highlight his adaptability and commitment to refining his game. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Kim to see if his new equipment can help him secure another PGA TOUR victory.