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Dahmen and Finau Tested New Putters at Biltmore

The two golfers trialed unique equipment modifications before missing the cut at the Biltmore Championship.

Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Golf

Expressive sports illustration of two golfers on a green, one mid-swing with a putter, captured in a painterly, gestural style.
Professional golfers Joel Dahmen and Tony Finau tested custom mallet putters at the Biltmore Championship, though both players missed the tournament cut. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Joel Dahmen and Tony Finau introduced custom putting equipment at the Biltmore Championship, though both players failed to advance past the tournament cut. The equipment changes included a specialized grip design and a custom mallet putter.

Why it matters

Dahmen is currently competing in the FedExCup Fall and requires strong finishes to maintain his PGA Tour playing status for 2027. Finau is looking to address ongoing struggles with his putting performance that have impacted his consistency throughout the 2026 season.

Tony Finau finished the event at seven-over par, while Joel Dahmen carded rounds of 69 and 72 before missing his ninth cut of the 2026 season. Finau currently holds the 108th position in PGA Tour Strokes Gained putting rankings.

The players

Joel Dahmen

A professional golfer on the PGA Tour who is currently fighting to retain his tour card for the upcoming season.

Tony Finau

A veteran professional golfer known for his length off the tee who has been seeking consistency on the greens during the 2026 season.

The details

Tony Finau debuted a Ping Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset putter paired with a hockey-inspired Caliber Golf grip designed to limit wrist movement. Meanwhile, Joel Dahmen utilized a custom-built mallet-design putter from Hanna Golf tailored to his specific performance needs.

Timeline

  1. The hockey-style grip design originated in 2018.

  2. Tony Finau struggled with his putting performance throughout 2026.

  3. Dahmen and Finau competed at the Biltmore Championship in September 2026.

  4. Dahmen is working to retain his PGA Tour playing rights for 2027.

Season Trajectory

These equipment experiments reflect a broader pressure on players to secure results during the FedExCup Fall to satisfy the FedExCup Fall playing rights qualification requirements. Failing to make the cut limits the ability of players like Dahmen to climb the standings and avoid losing their tour status.

Joel Dahmen now faces an even steeper challenge to improve his position in the FedExCup Fall rankings after recording his ninth missed cut of the year. Tony Finau remains outside the top 100 in putting efficiency, signaling that his equipment trial has yet to translate into the gains needed to move up the leaderboard.

The takeaway

Golfers often experiment with new equipment when facing performance slumps to spark a change in their results. Fans and bettors should monitor whether these players stick with these unconventional designs when tournament pressure intensifies later in the season.

Further reading

For more on the current competitive landscape, visit the Golf section.

Live Poll

Do you believe specialized equipment designs offer golfers a genuine competitive advantage?