Updated on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.: Rory McIlroy is changing putters. McIlroy acknowledged on Wednesday that he is switching from his old Nike Method putter to a Scotty Cameron.

"I think everyone knows I've made a change in putter, but I think that was inevitable after my performance at Baltusrol," said McIlroy on Wednesday at The Barclays. He then explained what's led to him dropping to near No. 100 in strokes gained putting on the PGA Tour.

"... trying to improve the path will definitely help," continued McIlroy. "And that's just the first part of it. The path is something that obviously, if you can address it, square and align it properly. If you can get that putter back to square at impact then you've got the best chance of obviously starting it on line. It's just about giving it good speed and giving it good read. So technically, I feel like I've come a long way in the last few weeks.

"I feel like with the putter change to a mallet, it doesn't encourage that face to close that much, which is the bad putt I was getting. So just sort of encourages the face to stay a little more square through impact."

Ah, the mallet. As Jonathan Wall reported, this is what McIlroy will be using.


Here is a better look at it.

As for clubs, McIlroy said he has not made a decision about switching away from Nike irons and driver after it announced that it would no longer make sticks in the future. It doesn't sound like a switch is imminent either.

"I'm happy with everything," said McIlroy. I'm hitting the ball well. That's not the issue. My issue over the past few months has been I just haven't been able to get the ball in the hole.

"I haven't been home, but apparently my parents' house has been inundated with golf equipment from different manufacturers. I haven't asked for it, but it's there. Again, I'm happy with everything right now. I don't think it's the time or the place to change what I feel like I'm very comfortable with. Obviously working with the Nike guys over the last number of years, they have gotten to know me and my specific tendencies and what I like in golf clubs. No reason to start changing just because I can. I'm comfortable with everything."

Original story

We won't be certain about whether Rory McIlroy is switching back to a Scotty Cameron putter for a few days (or maybe a few weeks), but the evidence is mounting that McIlroy is in fact turning in his Nike flat stick for a Cameron (which he formerly used). A sampling of the evidence.

1. Nike is out. McIlroy likely will not have any contractual obligation to Nike beyond this season (or maybe even for the rest of this season) because Nike is getting out of the club-making business. That doesn't mean McIlroy won't use his Nike Method putter for the rest of 2016. It just might mean he doesn't have to.

2. Rich Beem knows. Wait, what does Rich Beem know? Here's an anecdote via Ryan Ballangee of Golf News Net about an interaction Beem had with McIlroy had at the PGA Championship a few weeks ago.

"I did see something," PGA Championship competitor Rich Beem said. "[Rory's] locker was right across from mine during the week and he came in on one of the days. He'd just gotten a brand new Scotty Cameron putter which looked exactly like the one he won with at the U.S. Open in Congressional and I said, 'Can I see it?' I said, 'Man, that thing is pretty,' and he goes, 'Yeah, isn't it?'"

3. Photographs. The smoking gun! McIlroy was seen at The Barclays this week using a Scotty Cameron mallet. Here's PGA Tour equipment writer Johathan Wall.

This is a big deal. McIlroy is No. 96 on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting. Based on their performances in 2015-16, McIlroy loses about a stroke per round to Jason Day because of his putting. That's four strokes you have to make up elsewhere over the course of a tournament just to hang with the big boys.

McIlroy's equipment free agency in general is going to fascinate, particularly the putter choice. Maybe we'll find out about that sooner rather than later though.