Scottie Scheffler’s rival pinpoints ‘psychological switch’ behind latest surge

Scottie Scheffler did not suddenly become a good putter because someone convinced him to think happier thoughts.

The transformation required new equipment, technical adjustments and years of measurable improvement. Those changes have helped Scheffler maintain historic scoring consistency, but, three-season PGA golfer, Robert MacIntyre believes his turnaround also includes a change in self-perception.

“I think a lot of it is a psychological switch. I think he believes he’s a good putter now,” MacIntyre told Sky Sports, according to HITC.

MacIntyre’s assessment adds a psychological dimension to progress already visible in Scheffler’s equipment, technique and results.

Scheffler ranked 162nd on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting during the 2022-23 season. His ball-striking was historically good, but his work on the greens remained the clearest weakness in an otherwise dominant game.

Working with putting coach Phil Kenyon, Scheffler simplified his process and placed greater trust in his athletic instincts. He replaced his blade with a TaylorMade Spider Tour X mallet in March 2024 and climbed to 77th in strokes gained putting that season.

Scheffler later introduced a claw-style grip for shorter attempts while retaining his conventional grip on longer putts. By 2025, he ranked 22nd and gained 0.362 strokes per round on the greens.

That improvement has continued in 2026. Scheffler entered the Tour Championship ranked fifth in strokes gained putting and second in putting average on the PGA Tour.

He then followed an opening 65 with a 67 at East Lake to reach the weekend at 8 under, two shots off the lead. Scheffler converted a short birdie putt on No. 6 and closed Friday with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th, remaining in contention despite several uncharacteristic mistakes with his irons.

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Scheffler’s putting remains imperfect. He recently lost a Travelers Championship playoff after missing a makeable birdie putt, proof that his old weakness has not disappeared entirely.

It no longer needs to disappear.

Scheffler once reached the green as golf’s best ball-striker confronting the most vulnerable part of his game.

The statistics now support MacIntyre’s assessment: Putting has become another strength, and Scheffler appears to recognize it.