Golf

The story behind Tiger Woods’ ‘secret gamer’ putter

Tiger Woods’ connection to his Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter is effectively documented. Outside of the 1997 Masters, the remaining 14 main titles on his resume had been gained with a putter that’s presently riddled with dings and incorporates a distinguished put on spot in the midst of the face from a long time of use.

To many gearheads, it’s merely generally known as the “Elder Wand” — a magical putter that might seemingly fetch greater than $10 million if it ever hit the public sale block. The probabilities of that occuring are nearly as good as a 15-handicap profitable the Masters, however that hasn’t stopped backup variations of Woods’ well-known putter from hitting the open market in recent times.

This features a carbon copy of Woods’ gamer — minus the initials on the toe — that offered for almost $400k in 2021. At the time, it was essentially the most cash a Woods backup putter had ever fetched, however that may very well be altering within the not-too-distant future.

tiger woods scotty cameron putter auction
A take a look at the stamping on the Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter presently up for public sale at Golden Age.

Golden Age

According to golf public sale home Golden Age, a new Woods backup (dubbed the “Secret Gamer”) with a captivating backstory has the potential to go for giant cash because of one vital distinction.

The Newport 2 GSS currently on the auction block used to belong to a Scotty Cameron distributor by the title of Rand Pallis — the putter has since modified palms privately on a number of events through the years — who reportedly obtained the putter immediately from Cameron himself years in the past.

Go again and take a look at earlier Woods backups and also you’ll discover all of them include a certificates of authenticity from Cameron stating the putter was “Made for Tiger Woods.” It’s a distinction solely a handful of Cameron putters on the earth can boast of getting.

tiger woods scotty cameron coa
Only one Woods backup putter has the phrases “Very rare actual backup putter” on the Cameron COA.

Golden Age

But right here’s the place issues get attention-grabbing with this explicit putter. (Before we proceed, it’s vital to notice Golden Age was by no means in a position to substantiate the claims, so take every part with a grain of salt.)

“As the (admittedly unconfirmed) story that follows this putter goes, Tiger Woods once, during a moment of frustration, caused damage to his famous red dot gamer,” the public sale home states. “The putter was rushed to Scotty Cameron to perform the necessary repairs. During the few days it was out of Tiger’s possession, he was forced to put another red dot putter into play — supposedly the very red dot putter offered in this auction.”

So how would anybody be capable of inform this putter other than different Woods backups? Take a take a look at the COA. When Pallis got here into possession of the putter, he despatched it again to Cameron for an official COA, in 2015, which finally arrived with an surprising callout.

tiger woods ping pp58 putter grip
A blacked-out Ping PP58 — Woods grip of selection for many of his profession — is affixed to the putter.

Golden Age

“The COA came back with the curious (and important) description of Tiger Woods’ ‘Very rare actual backup putter.’ Scotty Cameron deliberately chose to indicate that this was no ordinary backup putter made for Tiger Woods, but instead was Tiger’s actual backup putter. If true, this putter may one day become the first Scotty Cameron putter to eclipse the $1 million mark.”

One take a look at the putter and it’s simple to see the backup shares many traits with Woods’ gamer, together with a blacked-out Ping PP58 grip and the unmistakable tri-sole design. One Cameron collector informed Golden Age founder Ryan Carey that “7 or so genuine Tiger red dot backups” exist on the planet. But that is the one one carrying the “Very rare actual backup putter” distinction.

Similar to the set of photo-matched Titleist irons and wedges from the “Tiger Slam” that offered for over $5 million, this putter possesses a mystique that’ll certainly hook plenty of prepared bidders.

Cameron hasn’t come forth to substantiate if the story is professional, but when he’s placing the phrases “Very rare actual backup putter” on a COA, it’s secure to imagine this isn’t your customary Woods wand. We’ll have to attend two weeks to see if these phrases assist the putter break one other Woods backup document.

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JWall

Jonathan Wall

Golf.com Editor

Jonathan Wall is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment. Prior to becoming a member of the workers on the finish of 2018, he spent 6 years masking tools for the PGA Tour. He might be reached at jonathan.wall@golf.com.


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