Who Is The Best Putter On The Pga Tour

Let’s settle this bar bet right now: who is the best putter on the PGA Tour? This is not a polite discussion. This is a turf war fought over three-footers and lip-outs, and the answer might surprise you more than a golf cart with a flat tire.

First, let’s admit the obvious: putting is weird. You hit a tiny ball with a flat-faced stick, hoping it rolls into a hole that looks like a thimble from 20 feet away. It’s the closest thing to witchcraft in sports. And yet, some humans do it so well that they make the rest of us look like we’re using a broom.

The Emperor of the Short Grass

If you asked ten casual golf fans, they’d likely yell “Tiger Woods!” because of that iconic 2001 Players Championship putt. But Tiger hasn’t been the best putter for a decade. His back is held together by duct tape and prayers. Sorry, Tiger, we still love you.

The statistical crown for pure putting belongs to a man who looks like he just finished a shift at a lighthouse: Will Zalatoris. No, really. In 2022, he led the tour in Strokes Gained: Putting. But here’s the kicker—he’s also one of the worst putters from inside three feet. He’ll drain a 40-foot bomb, then yip a tap-in. It’s like watching a superhero who can fly but can’t open a jar of pickles.

The Robot from Sweden

Meet Ludvig Åberg, the Swedish sensation who putts like a spreadsheet. He finished top-three in putting stats in 2024, and his stroke is so perfectly repeatable it makes a metronome look sloppy. But here’s the weird part: he hates practicing putting. He’ll spend hours hitting driver, then casually roll in a 30-footer while chewing a protein bar. It’s infuriating. And I love it.

But wait—let’s talk about Tommy Fleetwood, the Englishman with a mullet and the emotional range of a golden retriever. He’s not the statistical leader, but he’s the clutch king. In the 2023 Ryder Cup, he made putts so huge that he literally high-fived his caddie before the ball went in. That’s not golf. That’s a power move.

The Surprising Fact That Will Blow Your Mind

Here’s the stat that breaks your brain: the best putter on tour in 2023 was Denny McCarthy. Denny who? Exactly. He’s 5-foot-7, built like a barista, but he gains 0.8 shots per round on the greens. That’s like an accountant showing up to a fistfight and winning. But here’s the hilarious truth: despite his putting brilliance, he’s never won a PGA Tour event. Because golf is cruel, and you can’t putt for the ball to reach the green.

Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler—the current world number one—is an average putter by tour standards. But he hits the ball so precisely that he doesn’t need to putt well. It’s like being friends with a chef who burns toast but makes perfect steak. You don’t ask questions.

The Case for the Mad Lads

Let’s not ignore the human element. The best putter might be the guy who scares the hole. That’s Jon Rahm, who putts like he’s personally offended by the cup. He’ll snarl, his eyes turn into dinner plates, and the ball obeys. But he also throws tantrums that would make a toddler proud. Is that the best putter? Or just the angriest? Debatable.

And then there’s Patrick Cantlay, who moves so slowly that his putts take a page to describe. He’s methodical to the point of absurdity. But guess what? He’s been top-five in putting stats for three years. He’s the guy who finishes a crossword puzzle while everyone else panics. Boring. Brilliant. Both.

The Actual Answer (You’re Welcome)

If we go by pure numbers over the last five years, the crown goes to Chris Kirk. Yes, Chris Kirk—the guy with the dad bod and the quiet Southern drawl. He leads the tour in “putting inside 10 feet” by a ridiculous margin. He’s not flashy. He doesn’t have a sponsor. But the man is a cold-blooded killer with a flat stick. Respect the dad bod.

But if I had to pick one guy to drain a putt to save my cat from a tree, I’m picking Jordan Spieth. Not because he’s statistically the best—he’s not. But because Spieth is a magnificent disaster. He’ll miss a two-footer, then sink a 60-footer with double break while muttering to himself. He’s the golf version of a fireworks display: unpredictable, loud, and occasionally sets your lawn on fire. That’s entertainment.

So, who is the best putter? It depends on the day, the wind, and whether the golf gods are feeling merciful. But if you want a safe bet, put your money on a guy named Denny or Chris. Just don’t ask me to putt to decide who buys the next round. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.