Tommy Fleetwood arrived at the Valero Texas Open with a modified TaylorMade Spider Tour Black putter, replacing his signature Sharpie lines with a milled 'Pilot’s Eye' alignment aid. The change aims to refresh his mindset amid a slow start to the season on the greens. He responded with a five-under 67 in the opening round at TPC San Antonio.
Fleetwood's new putter retains the same model and specs as his previous gamer but features a sight dot surrounded by two perpendicular lines that frame the golf ball. TaylorMade Tour Rep James Holley previously drew 11 Sharpie lines on the top to mimic milled designs, an idea inspired by the Spider ZT prototype. Holley had to redraw them every few weeks, but the new 'Pilot’s Eye' provides a permanent version with lines matching the ball's width for better alignment. Holley noted, 'Tommy has always liked the ‘Pilot’s Eye’ and always picked up putters on the green with that alignment.'