The Putter Buzz for 3/17

So what’s the latest buzz in putting on the PGA Tour and beyond? It’s all right here in PutterZone.com’s new Putter Buzz series:

1. Vijay Singh recently switched from a belly putter back to a traditional putter, a move that has helped him climb into the Top 10 money leaders on the PGA Tour for 2008. He hasn’t won yet this year, but he’s getting close, finishing third yesterday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and second at Pebble Beach last month. His current putter of choice? A Never Compromise Exchange Series #5 blade. Click here to read PutterZone.com’s review of the sibling Exchange Series #2 mallet.

2. Conversely, Mark Calcavecchia has switched to a belly putter—for now, at least. Calcavecchia is notorious for abusing clubs that don’t obey his will, including putters. Last year, he threw a putter five times before it broke, the head flying into a hedge near his hotel. Says Calcavecchia: “You hate to break a putter because then you have to go to a golf shop or something and buy one. It‘s always good to bring an extra putter.” Or maybe an extra psychologist.

3. F2 Golf recently released two new models under the Hamilton Series banner: the HM1 blade (pictured here) and HM4 mallet (both $99). In addition to changeable heel and toe weights, both putters feature F2’s proprietary MicroDome Face Inserts. According to F2, these dome-textured inserts have “more secure contact points touching the dimpled golf ball than a traditional flat face putter to send the ball rolling more accurately on its intended line at impact.” Stay tuned for the PutterZone.com review.

4. Bernard Langer has been on a serious roll lately with his Rife Two Bar Hybrid putter. On March 10, he won the PGA Champions Tour Toshiba Classic, beating Jay Haas on the seventh playoff hole. And yesterday, Langer finished just two shots off the winning score at the AT&T Champions Classic. Click here to read PutterZone.com’s review of Rife’s new Two Bar Hybrid putter.