Mahan's new putter working

• By Rex Hoggard
• Feb 26, 2012 10:52 AM ET

MARANA, Ariz. - Much has been made of Hunter Mahan’s new putter this week, a last-minute addition to his bag and a dramatic change for a player who has used an Anser-style putter almost his entire career.

After the Northern Trust Open Mahan asked Ping equipment representatives to bring a laser device to Dove Mountain on Monday to check his alignment. According to Ping rep Chance Cosby Mahan’s alignment on a 12-foot putt, for example, was off by 2 to 2 ½ inches to the left.

After tinkering with various versions of his Anser-style putter Ping officials suggested he try the new face-balanced mallet-style Nome putter.

“Nothing really looked good to him and we wanted to put something a little more extreme in his hands. Hunter thought we were kidding him when we first brought it over,” Cosby said early Sunday. “He never even considered a putter like that.”

According to the laser device Mahan was lined up perfectly with the Nome, which is named after the city in Alaska and not yet available to the public, and has been nearly perfect this week with the new implement, having not been pushed past the 15th hole in last three matches.