Professional golfer shocks the world with tiny 18-inch putter

When the putting woes strike, most players go long. But one pro has gone in the opposite direction – using the shortest putter legally allowed in professional golf, and it’s holing putts and turning heads.

When the putting woes get to a stage where even the claw grip can’t solve them, most golfers are forced to go for a putter that’s on the limits of what’s allowed in terms of length. Adam Scott, Bernhard Langer, Will Zalatoris, Akshay Bhatia, and Si Woo Kim are among the countless pros who have gone to a broom-handle putter.

But no one has gone to the other extreme – until now.

Canadian pro Philippe Gariepy was spotted using an 18-inch putter during the 103rd PGA Championship of Canada.

In a game where most pros are gaming flatsticks between 32 to 36 inches, Gariepy’s putter is barely longer than a forearm – and it’s the shortest putter you can legally use in professional golf.

Why go so short? Well, Gariepy hasn’t given us the full story yet, but one thing’s clear: it’s working. He shot a 71 in the opening round to sit tied for 16th at one-under-par in a field of 113 players. That’s impressive when you’re putting with what looks like something from a Fisher Price set.

Social media reaction has been a mix of awe, curiosity, and pure disbelief. Some are calling it genius. Others are wondering how it’s even possible to make consistent strokes with something that size. A few expressed concern for his back.

The short putter revolution? Probably not. But in a sport obsessed with marginal gains and personal feel, Gariepy’s experiment shows there’s still room for bold, unorthodox choices – even on the biggest stages in Canadian golf.

Whether it’s a one-off stunt or the start of something weirder, one thing’s for sure: this tiny putter is making a big splash.

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