The history of modern putting can arguably be divided into two eras: before and after the 1997 Masters. That was the year Tiger Woods dominated Augusta National with a Scotty Cameron Newport TeI3 – a putter that redefined the aesthetic of the blade.
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Its 12-metal copper alloy Teryllium insert, backed by a distinctive 32-dot vibration-dampening pattern, became one of Cameron’s putter calling cards, due to the soft feel and responsive acoustics.
In the decades since, the Teryllium “TeI3” has remained a cornerstone of Cameron’s legacy.
However, the studio has never been one to rest on its laurels. Cameron has spent the intervening years treating the putterface as a laboratory, experimenting with everything from 303 stainless and carbon steel to more exotic applications of brass and even sterling silver.
Recently, the design language shifted towards aluminium. These iterations were primarily dubbed “inlays” – wraparound components that extended from the face down into the sole to strategically move mass away from the hitting surface. This engineering trick increases the moment of inertia (MOI), providing mallet-esque stability within the sleek profile of a blade.
In recent weeks, Cameron’s tour team quietly added a new insert dubbed “SAL” (Studio Aluminium) to the line-up.
Unlike the wraparound inlays of the recent past, the SAL is a traditional face insert housed within a classic Newport 2 head. The prototype was born from a specific tour request: a player looking to “back-weight” a blade by stripping significant mass from the face.
By replacing heavy steel with lightweight Studio Aluminium, designers could shift the centre of gravity further toward the rear, offering a unique blend of blade-style arc and mallet-like forgiveness.
Visually, the SAL pays homage to three decades of Cameron heritage, featuring intricate milling marks and a geometry that echoes his most famous work. On the practice green, the feedback has been distinct. While the feel remains remarkably soft, the aluminium produces a slightly more “clicky” and immediate acoustic profile than its Teryllium predecessor.
For the gear junkies hoping to bag one, the news is a bit of a “wait and see”. Cameron reps confirmed there are currently no plans to bring the design to retail. For the foreseeable future, the SAL remains a tour-only prototype.
