After 36 holes at The 153rd Open Championship held at Royal Portrush, World No.1 Scottie Scheffler topped the leaderboard, gaining recognition not only for his overall play but especially for his putting. The American golfer ranked second for Strokes Gained: Putting during the week, signaling a remarkable performance with the flatstick that deviates from his usual long game strength. Scheffler’s transformation in putting technique has sparked interest among fans and players alike, as his success is driven significantly by a newly adopted grip—the Scottie Scheffler claw grip.
How Scheffler’s Claw Grip Works and Its Impact on His Game
Traditionally relying on a blade putter, Scheffler switched to a mallet putter last year and also altered his traditional putting grip to the claw grip. This technique involves resting the putter grip against the palm of the left hand, with the back of the hand pointing toward the target line. The right hand forms a claw or pincer shape with the thumb and index finger to stabilize the grip.
Scheffler began experimenting with the claw grip at the 2024 Hero World Challenge while training with renowned putting coach Phil Kenyon. According to Scheffler, the modification was designed primarily to improve putts within the 15-foot range. Reflecting on his development, he shared,
“I’m always looking for little ways to improve. It’s something that Phil had mentioned to me last year when we first started working together.”
Over the last couple of months it’s something that we fiddled around with and figured this is a good week for me to kind of try things out.
—Scottie Scheffler, World No.1 Golfer
The grip debuted publicly at the Hero World Challenge, where Scheffler secured a six-stroke victory with a 25-under-par total, demonstrating its immediate positive influence on his putting efficiency.
Adoption of the Claw Grip Among Top Professionals
As of mid-2024, the claw grip has found favor with several leading players in the sport. Alongside Scheffler, golfers such as Russell Henley and Collin Morikawa, all ranked within the world’s top 10, utilize this technique. Additionally, professionals like Tommy Fleetwood, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Tony Finau, and Matt Wallace have integrated the claw grip into their games, highlighting its growing acceptance across elite levels of golf.
Advantages and Challenges of Using the Claw Grip
The primary benefit of the claw grip is how it encourages shoulder-driven motion by minimizing active hand involvement, producing a smooth and consistent stroke. This approach helps stabilize the putter face and prevents the right hand from overly influencing the putt’s direction, improving control and accuracy.
On the downside, the grip’s hands-off feature limits the ability to release the putter naturally, which can present difficulties on greens with slower speeds. This limitation explains why Scheffler tends to reserve the claw grip for shorter putts, where precision and control are paramount. Understanding these trade-offs remains crucial for players considering adopting the technique.
Claw Grip’s Influence on Recent PGA Tour Success
The impact of the claw grip has become evident in the 2025 PGA Tour season, producing six tournament victories with players using this method. In addition to Scheffler’s three wins, Russell Henley captured the Arnold Palmer Invitational, William Mouw claimed the ISCO Championship, and Nick Taylor won the Sony Open in Hawaii. These results suggest that the claw grip is not only gaining popularity but may also be playing a vital role in improving putting performance at the highest level.
The Future Potential of the Claw Grip in Professional Golf
Scottie Scheffler’s transition to the claw grip represents a thoughtful and cautious shift within the game’s putting techniques. Its growing adoption by top golfers signals a possible change in how professionals approach short putting, balancing control with consistency. As players continue refining this technique and understanding its best applications, the claw grip could become a defining feature on tour greens worldwide. Golfers and coaches will likely monitor Scheffler’s ongoing success closely to see if this method becomes a standard tool for improving putting efficiency across all levels of the sport.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What was Scottie Scheffler upset about?
A. Scottie Scheffler scored 69 at Quail Hollow on Thursday, but mud on the golf balls frustrated him and affected his performance. Known for his skill with irons, Scheffler had a double bogey on the 16th hole at the 2025 PGA Championship because a ball was covered in mud.
Q. What did Scottie Scheffler do illegally?
A. The number one-ranked golfer tried to reach Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, early in the morning. Police reported that he went around an accident scene where a pedestrian had been killed, which was against the law. Scheffler faced several charges, such as second-degree assault of a police officer and reckless driving.
Q. What does Tiger Woods think of Scottie Scheffler?
A. In the video, Tiger Woods spoke highly of Scheffler, highlighting his unique qualities. Tiger mentioned how they both share a similar approach to hitting shots onto the greens. They focus on positioning the ball well, even if it’s not always perfect. The key is thinking about the long-term game, not just immediate results.
Q. How much money did Scottie Scheffler get for winning the Olympics?
A. Scottie Scheffler received money as a reward for his gold medal. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee paid him for his achievement. Team USA athletes earn $37,500 for winning gold, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze medals.