Tony Finau made a significant change to his putting equipment this week, switching from his longtime PING PLD Custom Ally Blue Onset 5 putter to a PING Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset. This adjustment produced an immediate improvement in his performance, as demonstrated at the recent Pebble Beach event where Finau led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting with a +8.255 score.
Challenges in Finau’s Putting Performance in Recent Seasons
Throughout 2024, Finau excelled in most areas of his game, ranking 10th in Strokes Gained: Total, 2nd in Strokes Gained: Approach, and 12th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green. However, his putting consistently lagged behind, placing him 156th in Strokes Gained: Putting and costing him over 21 strokes on the greens over the season.
In 2025, these struggles persisted, with Finau’s putting ranking 124th and a Strokes Gained: Putting of -7.280. His average putts per round remained near 29, and his three-putt frequency was higher than desired. Given these results, putting stood out as the weakest segment of his game compared to his strong ball striking.
Features of the PING Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset Putter
The new Ally Blue Onset putter incorporates an onset construction design, where the shaft entry is positioned well behind the face rather than in front. This alters the visual alignment at address and changes how the putter head rotates through the stroke.
Unlike a zero-torque design, the shaft’s off-center entry creates approximately 15 degrees of toe hang, which suits players who utilize some arc in their putting stroke. This indicates the putter offers a feel and swing path consistent with Finau’s style.
Potential Long-Term Effects of the Putter Change
Finau has shown loyalty to PING PLD Anser-style prototype putters since 2021. While one strong week is not enough to reverse two seasons of putting struggles, gaining more than eight strokes in putting after changing putters signals a noteworthy shift in performance.
Experts and followers of the sport will be observing whether this improvement signals a sustained turnaround in Finau’s putting or if it is a temporary boost. This putter change could mark a turning point in his overall game and tournament results moving forward.
