Why Rory McIlroy once used three putters during a single golf tournament

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Rory McIlroy might have been one of the best golfers in the world for over a decade now but there have been weeks in his career where even he’s had to tinker.

As amateur golfers, many of us are quick to blame our equipment for poor form.

The reality, of course, is that it’s more likely a swing problem or something else, rather than a direct consequence of certain clubs making the big difference.

However, in the professional ranks, where everyone can capably hit a golf ball and pull out most of the shots required to be successful, club choice does matter that bit more.

And back in 2017, we saw Rory McIlroy take things to the extreme when he went through a number of different putters in one single tournament.

Rory McIlroy’s triple putter change at the Travelers Championship

Changing a putter once during a week’s golf tournament can sometimes be enough to make things go one way or the other.

But changing it once then changing it again, is bordering on madness.

However, that’s what Rory McIlroy did during the Travelers Championship all the way back in 2017 as he went in search of something on the greens that simply wasn’t there.

After struggling in the opening three rounds but battling to somewhere not too off the top 30, McIlroy changed his putter once again for the final round.

This time, he had success. McIlroy carded a final round 64, making the jump inside the top 20 and finishing what looked like being a miserable weekend on a high.

At the time, McIlroy summed up why he’d made the change again.

“I couldn’t have done any worse than what I’ve done in the first three days,” McIlroy commented after making seven birdies in round four.

“So I just wanted to mix it up and go back to something that looked a little more familiar. That style of head or that head shape I’ve had the most success with. So I went back to that today to see if I could conjure up any good feelings and it felt pretty good.”

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Rory McIlroy’s putting stats for 2025

Putting is such a big part of the game and a bit like Scottie Scheffler, if McIlroy putts well, then he’s generally in contention.

It is, though, an area of his game he can improve on.

In 2025, McIlroy did finish 9th for overall strokes gained putting but there is improvement to be had in other areas.

He was all the way down in 148th place for three putt avoidance, while he’s also down in 83rd for total putting.

Thankfully, he does make some unlikely long putts to help him, with McIlroy sitting 14th in average distance of putts made.

All in all, though, if he can improve on each metric here even by five or ten percent, it could well be the difference between him winning and not.