Scotty Cameron is bringing one of its fastest-growing tour setups to retail with the new Phantom 9.5R, a rounded mallet that combines the stability and alignment benefits of the Phantom family with increased toe flow and a more blade-like release.
The model has already built an impressive résumé at the highest levels of the game. Jackson Koivun switched into a Phantom 9.5R one week before earning his first PGA TOUR victory at the 2026 3M Open, while Cameron Young has used the setup for each of his three PGA TOUR victories, including THE PLAYERS Championship this season.
The Phantom 9.5R will be available in U.S. golf shops beginning September 30, at $549.
A Tour-Proven Setup
The 9.5R began gaining traction after prototypes arrived on the PGA TOUR, where players were drawn to its combination of a modern mallet shape, rounded contours and Scotty Cameron's ".5" jet neck.
Young was among the first to make the switch, putting a prototype in play at the 2025 RBC Heritage. Since then, he has won three times on TOUR and continued climbing the world rankings, reaching a career-best No. 3.
For Young, the additional face rotation was an important part of the fit.
“I just felt like the middle of the face was more apparent to me with a little bit more [face] rotation and a little bit more release into the ball,” Young said. “I felt like I just struck it more in the middle, which kind of helped my speed, made it roll a little tighter.”
The model's long single sightline also gave Young the cleaner alignment reference he wanted. He uses a black line on his Pro V1x Double Dot and matches it to the line running along the putter.
“The long line helps with my alignment,” Young said.
Jackson Koivun Finds an Immediate Fit
Koivun's transition to the 9.5R was even faster.
After playing a Phantom 9R during his college career, Koivun worked with Scotty Cameron Tour Rep Drew Page to find a setup that offered more toe flow without moving away from the familiar Phantom shape.
The first putter they built was the 9.5R.
“There was no reason to test any other models,” Page said.
One start later, Koivun shot 25 under to win the 3M Open by three strokes in just his third professional start, finishing the week by converting a 13-foot winning putt.
The jet neck proved particularly important to Koivun, giving the putter more toe hang and allowing the face to release more naturally through impact.
“The jet neck gives it a little more toe hang and it helps the face release, which is something I was looking for when switching,” Koivun said. “Then seeing some guys have some success with it, it just worked for me.”
The head shape also maintained the visual characteristics he had grown comfortable with.
“This was a familiar shape for me,” Koivun said. “The rounded edges are great. It just gives it a soft look that almost helps me line it up a little better, and then it just sits nicely on the ground.”
What Makes the Phantom 9.5R Different?
The Phantom 9.5R shares its head shape with the 2026 Phantom 9R and 9.2R, using softer and more rounded contours than the original Phantom 9 design introduced in 2024.
Where the 9.5R separates itself is the neck configuration. Its elongated ".5" jet neck creates more toe flow than either the 9R or 9.2R, making it an option for golfers who want mallet stability but prefer to feel more face rotation and release through the stroke.
The putter also incorporates the 2026 Phantom family's full-face Studio Carbon Steel insert with chain-link milling, designed to produce a softer sound and feel while preserving feedback.
A long single sightline stretches across the head to provide a straightforward alignment reference.
Success Beyond the PGA TOUR
The 9.5R's influence has already reached the elite amateur game.
Preston Stout, currently the world's top-ranked amateur, used a Phantom 9.5R to win the 2026 NCAA Division I Men's Individual Championship and has kept it in the bag throughout his PGA TOUR appearances this summer.
Justin Thomas has also experimented extensively with the configuration, putting a backup originally built for Cameron Young into play for much of the 2026 season.
The adoption reflects a familiar pattern on TOUR: one player's successful setup catches another player's attention, leading to additional testing and eventually more putters entering competition.
Phantom 9.5R Specs
Neck: Jet neck (.5)
Alignment: Single sightline
Grip: Full Contact
Loft: 3.5 degrees
Lie: 70 degrees
Lengths: 33, 34 and 35 inches
Dexterity: Right-handed only
The Phantom 9.5R joins Scotty Cameron's broader 2026 Phantom family, which offers multiple head and neck combinations designed to fit different strokes, alignment preferences and amounts of toe flow.
The Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5R is available for pre-sale now and is scheduled to reach U.S. golf shops on September 30 for $549.