Justin Rose tests new putter ahead of Ryder Cup

Is Justin Rose about to make a shock equipment change ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup

The Englishman has raised eyebrows just days before the Ryder Cup in New York after appearing to test a brand-new Scotty Cameron prototype putter.

The surprise came this morning when Justin Rose’s caddie, Mark Foocher, posted a video on Instagram of the 2013 US Open champion dialling in his game on the practice green. Eagle-eyed fans and equipment geeks alike have quickly spotted that the flatstick in Rose’s hands didn’t look like his usual gamer.

Instead of his familiar Scotty Cameron T-5, Rose appeared to be working with a Scotty Cameron T-11.5 prototype. On paper, it’s not the biggest switch he could make, but it’s still a bold move to be experimenting with fresh gear during one of golf’s most high-pressure weeks.

The Ryder Cup is a pressure-cooker atmosphere, where short putts can swing entire matches. With Europe eyeing up their first win on US soil in over a decade, Rose’s form on the greens could be a game-changer for Luke Donald’s team.

So why the switch? The Scotty Cameron T-11.5 features a larger head profile, offering extra stability and alignment benefits, potentially giving Rose more forgiveness over his T-5 on those nervy six-to-ten footers that so often decide Ryder Cup points.

What makes the move even more curious is that Justin Rose hasn’t exactly struggled with the putter this season. He ranks 10th on the PGA Tour in putting average (1.72 putts per GIR), 25th in putts per round (28.47), and his strokes gained putting is trending upwards year-on-year, currently 55th. On paper, the numbers look solid, but perhaps Rose has felt something’s been missing in recent weeks.

At this stage, it’s unclear whether the Englishman will actually put the Scotty Cameron prototype into play at Bethpage or if this was simply a trial run before reverting to his trusty T-5. Either way, the sight of him rolling putts with a new flatstick has sparked plenty of debate among fans and equipment watchers ahead of Friday’s opening tee shot.

About the author

Will has a degree in journalism from Sheffield Hallam university and four years of experience working in golf retail with American Golf. Will was part of the sales and fitting team, making him the perfect man to review golf equipment.

Trained by a range of manufacturers, including Titleist and TaylorMade, to enhance his product knowledge, Will has all of the skills required to recommend the perfect equipment for amateur golfers.