Scottie Scheffler gets candid about the switch to a claw grip, reveals ideal scenario for the new technique

Scottie Scheffler opened up about his recent change in golf equipment. After a break, the American golfer returned to compete at this week's Hero World Challenge, which started with its first round on Thursday, December 5.

During the first round of the event, the World No. 1 switched to a claw grip. He won the tournament last year while playing with a Logan Olson putter, which he changed earlier this year. He then played with the TaylorMade Spider Tour X-L Neck putter and has now recently changed the grip to the claw.

Scottie Scheffler has had a remarkable season in 2024, winning seven tournaments, including The Masters, The Players Championship, and the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, before concluding the regular PGA Tour season with a victory at the season-ending Tour Championship. However, the two-time major winner is still hoping to improve his game and made changes to his bag this week.

Speaking of the changes, he said (via PGA Tour):

"I'm always looking for ways to improve and I felt like this was something that we had looked at last year when Phil and I first started working together, but it was really our first time working together and it's something that's different than what I've done in the past."

"Took a look at it this offseason and figured this is a good week to try stuff just because you can practice and practice and do all the stuff at home, but there's just something different about being in competition. I really enjoyed the way it felt, I felt like I'm seeing some improvements in my stroke," he added.

With the new claw grip, Scottie Scheffler played some impressive shots in the opening round of the Hero World Challenge. He shot 67 and tied for third place.

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A look into Scottie Scheffler's performance at the 2024 Hero World Challenge playing with a claw-putting grip

Scheffler played an impressive round of 5-under 67 in the opening round of the unofficial PGA Tour event, hosted by Tiger Woods. He started the game with a flawless birdie on the par-4 first hole and then scored another birdie on the 6th.

However, he also made a bogey on the par-3 fourth hole in the opening round but bounced back on the back nine with four birdies, tying for third at 5-under, three strokes behind the opening-round leader, Cameron Young.

Justin Thomas shot 6-under 66 and settled in solo second, followed by Akshay Bhatia, Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, Scheffler, and Sahith Theegala in a tie for third place. Robert MacIntyre tied for eighth place with Nick Dunlap, Sam Burns, and Keegan Bradley at 4-under.

Notably, the ongoing Hero World Challenge features a field of just 20 players. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, December 8, in Albany, Bahamas.