The Tale of Tiger Woods "The Scotty"

Just found this article earlier in the day. Have not been a fan of everything Jason Sobel has said or writes, but this is an awesome write up. Really cool to see the back stories of one of the greatest and most iconic putters ever made.

http://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/18544732/golf-tiger-woods-scotty-cameron-world-most-famous-putter

I searched but had not seen this posted yet. Sorry if this is a repost.

BHG

Would he have been a better putter with the Cameron instead of the Nike? We'll never know. But now that the Cameron is back, it does seem a little like some order to the world has been restored.

Would he have been a better putter with the Cameron instead of the Nike? We'll never know. But now that the Cameron is back, it does seem a little like some order to the world has been restored.

I agree. He definitely has to feel more confident looking down at a putter he's won 13 majors with, at least I would :cheesy: .

All the time with Nike and he couldn't win a major with the Method. But Stewart Cink could.

Love how the large dots were an accident, a way to scale back the weight of the putter. Not some sort of design to just be different.

Yeah, that story about the origin of the cherry dot is very cool. It's amazing how something so iconic and brand defining now was a last minute adjustment 20 years ago.

Yeah, that story about the origin of the cherry dot is very cool. It's amazing how something so iconic and brand defining now was a last minute adjustment 20 years ago.

Right? Scotty with the 'hold on just one more minute!" to the FedEx guy. Great story, interesting insight all around.

"You can find other putters," Woods says. "You might put it on the side, or in the penalty box for a little bit. But for some reason, it just keeps coming back."

One "putter" didn't come back.

All that talk about the weight and the exact specs of the putter, but they never actually mentioned what the specs were.

Does anyone know? Just curious.

All the time with Nike and he couldn't win a major with the Method. But Stewart Cink could.

People forget about this... most horrid display of putting ever (I don't think Cink was using a method here, but all of them could have used new putters that day!)

Really cool article

But, If the putts aren't dropping, it will only be a matter of time before you see him swayed to the spider

Really cool article

But, If the putts aren't dropping, it will only be a matter of time before you see him swayed to the spider

at the end of the day...

I'm a big Tiger fan, and am not looking to fan any flames here, but in the following story shouldn't he have not used the putter for the remainder of the round if it was noticeably damaged? Unless the incident occurred on the 18th hole I suppose.

"Cameron vividly remembers one of these occasions from years ago. He was in his putting studio, watching Woods on television at Torrey Pines, when he saw Woods' reaction after a missed putt.

"He hit it against the bottom of his bag," Cameron recalls. "I turned to one of my coworkers and said, 'That's going to need some work.'"

Within a few hours, Woods called the office.

"How bad is it?" Cameron asked.

"Man," replied Woods, "it's a mess.""

All that talk about the weight and the exact specs of the putter, but they never actually mentioned what the specs were.

 

Does anyone know? Just curious.

I can't remember where I read it but someone mentioned the head is light and I believe 35". don't know the rest.

I would love to roll just one putt with that iconic putter. Really hope to see Tiger celebrating a victory with that in hand this season

Cool read, thanks OP.

Unfortunately I just can't believe anything that comes out of Cameron's mouth (or pen) anymore.

Now how long before he has a Taylormade putter in his bag?

Cool read, thanks OP.

 

Unfortunately I just can't believe anything that comes out of Cameron's mouth (or pen) anymore.

Now how long before he has a Taylormade putter in his bag?

Never.

I'm a big Tiger fan, and am not looking to fan any flames here, but in the following story shouldn't he have not used the putter for the remainder of the round if it was noticeably damaged? Unless the incident occurred on the 18th hole I suppose.

 

"Cameron vividly remembers one of these occasions from years ago. He was in his putting studio, watching Woods on television at Torrey Pines, when he saw Woods' reaction after a missed putt.

"He hit it against the bottom of his bag," Cameron recalls. "I turned to one of my coworkers and said, 'That's going to need some work.'"

Within a few hours, Woods called the office.

"How bad is it?" Cameron asked.

"Man," replied Woods, "it's a mess.""

Only if the damage renders the club non conforming, or changes its playing characteristics. Altered lie or just being bent doesn't seem to be enough.

Cool read, thanks OP.

 

Unfortunately I just can't believe anything that comes out of Cameron's mouth (or pen) anymore.

i especially like the part about the bed time stories he told it and drinks the crew and the putter had before being shipped back ( paraphrasing of course) .... Nice read OP ... ( even if you are a clemson fan) ..... makes me wonder how on gods green earth Nike paid him enough money to quit that stick.?

I just read the article and laughed out loud at the bit about the electricity to the machines in the shop being turned off - funny on so many levels. Tiger as awkward nerd has always been a little endearing. Plus it reminds me about an embarrassing and subzero winter night, a snow blower and a plastic key/plug that disables the engine. People driving by probably thought I was practicing the silly pull the lawnmower cord move, and my obscenities.

Cool read, thanks OP.

 

Unfortunately I just can't believe anything that comes out of Cameron's mouth (or pen) anymore.

why not?

It's like the friend you have that is an entertaining storyteller, but (not surprisingly) the least reliable in terms of factual accuracy. The two tend to go hand in hand.

Cameron has come to have a bit of a penchant for embellishment. And it has served him well.

It's like the friend you have that is an entertaining storyteller, but (not surprisingly) the least reliable in terms of factual accuracy. The two tend to go hand in hand.

 

Cameron has come to have a bit of a penchant for embellishment. And it has served him well.

He has great words.

Sad.

Cool read, thanks OP.

 

Unfortunately I just can't believe anything that comes out of Cameron's mouth (or pen) anymore.

why not?

 

It's like the friend you have that is an entertaining storyteller, but (not surprisingly) the least reliable in terms of factual accuracy. The two tend to go hand in hand.

 

Cameron has come to have a bit of a penchant for embellishment. And it has served him well.

The part about how the modern tour dot came to be (smaller versions existed prior to Tiger's GSS) with Scotty drilling with the UPS guy waiting outside just seems a bit too storybook for me. I feel like there's likely some truth to it, but like you said, embellished for the sake of an interesting story.

Now how long before he has a Taylormade putter in his bag?

Never. His TM deal is 13 clubs. Which leaves the open slot for "The Scotty."

All that talk about the weight and the exact specs of the putter, but they never actually mentioned what the specs were.

 

Does anyone know? Just curious.

From what I have read, he plays his putter at 35 1/4, standard lie, and +1/4 loft to get the ball rolling on the ground better. He has also added lead tape over the years after several restorations by scotty. It is clearly that his putter has several dings but it gives it so much integrity.

I forgot to mention that everywhere I read he plays around 330 gram head weight. I will verify.

I forgot to mention that everywhere I read he plays around 330 gram head weight. I will verify.

It's actually lower than 330g...IIRC, the specs were 326-327g and 35.5" in playing length.

- Josh

I forgot to mention that everywhere I read he plays around 330 gram head weight. I will verify.

 

It's actually lower than 330g...IIRC, the specs were 326-327g and 35.5" in playing length.

 

- Josh

Makes sense that Tiger could struggle on slow greens with a putter that light