John Stones’ next club after Man City exit: Bundesliga reunion, old club return, World Cup focus – Manchester Evening News
Need to know
Long serving Manchester City defender John Stones left the Etihad Stadium at the end of this season following his contract expiring
John Stones bids a final farewell to the Manchester City supporters(Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
All you need to know about John Stones’ next club after leaving Manchester City:
John Stones left Manchester City at the end of this season after 10 years at the club. His departure was not a surprise after injuries plagued the final few seasons of his City career.
Stones, along with Bernardo Silva and Pep Guardiola, was given a fond farewell following the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on the final day of the Premier League season.
On the pitch, he paid tribute to the City fans. “I can’t express the gratitude I feel. To feel the love you have given me over ten years. It has been a dream come true,” he said. “From the bottom of my heart, from the bottom of my family’s heart, thank you so much. It has been an honour to wear the shirt, to play for this club has been a privilege. This will always be my home. I look forward to watching the games with you in the stands. Thank you for the memories and I hope we made everyone’s dreams come true.”
After leaving City, there has been no indication that Stones is planning on retiring.
The 32-year-old earned a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad and could start alongside former City teammate Marc Guehi this summer. Read the full story here.
But once the tournament concludes, Stones will be searching for his next club. So far, two clubs have become standout contenders for his signature.
Bayern Munich, who are managed by Stones’ former City teammate Vincent Kompany, have been linked with a move. The Bundesliga side is home to Harry Kane who Stones knows well from their time together with England.
A return to former club Everton has also been suggested. David Moyes’ side enjoyed a good season before slipping off towards the end to finish in mid table.
Other rumoured destinations for Stones include a switch to Serie A with either AC Milan or Juventus and remaining in the Premier League with AFC Bournemouth.
The NBA Finals will continue on Wednesday with Game 4 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, another opportunity to claim the latest BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS, which gives new users $150 in bonus bets if their first bet wins or up to $1,500 in bonus bets if their qualifying wager loses. The trend of the road team winning each game in the NBA Finals continued in Game 3, but the SportsLine Projection Model is still backing the Knicks to win and cover as 2.5-point favorites in its Wednesday NBA best bets at BetMGM Sportsbook. The over-under is 216.5.
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Knicks (-2.5) vs. Spurs (-118)
Landry Shamet, Knicks, Over 1.5 total 3-pointers made (-120)
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Landry Shamet, Knicks, Over 1.5 total 3-pointers made (-120)
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Blue Jays (+125) vs. Phillies
The Blue Jays are starting a future Hall of Fame pitcher, but a future immortal certainly isn’t pitching to that level at the moment. However, at the other end of the spectrum, Max Scherzer isn’t your typical 9.64 ERA pitcher. The 41-year-old is expected to return from the injured list, where he’s been since the end of April with a forearm injury, to pitch on Wednesday. Scherzer has a career 3.26 ERA, and the Phillies are set to start Jesus Luzardo, who has a 4.56 ERA and is coming off allowing five runs in six innings to the White Sox on Friday. Luzardo allowed eight runs in 2 ⅓ innings in his one start against the Blue Jays last season. Despite a losing record overall this season, the Blue Jays are 20-15 at home this season, including a 3-2 win over the Phillies on Tuesday. The model projects Toronto to win in 57% of simulations, showcasing strong value at these odds. Back the Blue Jays by claiming the latest BetMGM promo code CBSSPORTS here:
DC Brian Flores said he likes to think of the defensive coaching staff as being part of a think tank, capable of tossing ideas out into the open to spur innovation. Maybe it’s that openness to trying new things that has fed into the ongoing experiment with Ty Ingram-Dawkins playing edge rusher.
The Vikings large lad is looking leaner. Listed at 6’5” and 290-pounds, the young lineman joined the NFL as a hybrid player. Tasking him with lining up directly across from the center before soaking up blockers was never in his job description. He could, nevertheless, be shuffled up and down the line so as to arrive at favorable matchups.
A massive man (who does great off-field work), Rouse is facing an uphill battle at offensive tackle, his college position. All of Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, Ryan Van Demark, and Caleb Tiernan are ahead of him on the depth chart. At guard, in contrast, there’s a wide open competition behind the starting pair of Donovan Jackson and Will Fries. Might Rouse become the OG3 rolling into the 2026 season? Doing so would give him a clearer pathway toward sticking around and contributing.
Two Vikings Large Lads Trying Out New Spots
In Ty Ingram-Dawkins, the plan all along was for versatility. Does that initial ambition of moving around mean a full-time job at edge rusher? Not necessarily, but the possibility was always there.
And, in fairness, the Vikings have by no means committed themselves to shifting the young defender to the position as a permanent spot. Even if they did, when has Brian Flores ever felt constrained to fixity within a player’s on-field assignment?
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Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores looks on against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images.
Listen to the DC. He likes working with players who can do several things well (think Josh Metellus and Andrew Van Ginkel as great examples). Sometimes, Ingram-Dawkins can be a jumbo edge rusher, as has been the case at Vikings minicamp at times. So, too, can he be a leaner player for the interior of the defensive line. All part of the ingredients being tossed into the Flores cauldron of defensive madness.
In Rouse, the Vikings boast a truly massive lineman who has yet to breakthrough. All along, the plan had been for a slower approach to development since he went in the 6th of the 2024 NFL Draft. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah even made comments about development, noting that it took some time in college but that Rouse had the potential to become a bully.
Per PFF, Walter Rouse played 13 snaps at left tackle and 75 snaps at right tackle in 2025. What’s most discouraging isn’t the low snap count. Rather, it’s that his playing time dropped off in the final half of the season, a reality that appears particularly discouraging given the injuries to the o-line. Put simply, Rouse needs to continue proving he belongs on the team.
On the other side of the ball, Ingram-Dawkins had 135 snaps as a 3-4 defensive end last season (think across from the offensive tackle). He then had 97 snaps as an edge rusher alongside 16 in more of a 3T spot. Given where things are trending, Ingram-Dawkins may see that edge rusher snap allotment increase.
Jun 10, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Donovan Jackson (74) and offensive tackle Walter Rouse (73) practice during minicamp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
A perfect world for the Vikings involves seeing these two both make the roster while then working themselves into meaty roles on Sunday. Not just dress, but demand snaps on a regular basis. Better yet, be part of the mix for winning the line of scrimmage more often than not.
The current outlook suggests that Ty Ingram-Dawkins is in a better spot than Walter Rouse, but the d-line competition is intense after adding Caleb Banks (still recovering from injury) and Domonique Orange. Both need to keep polishing their game while acclimating to new on-field assignments.
Minnesota Vikings defenders (Domonique Orange) participate in drills during the opening day of mandatory minicamp at the TCO Performance Center. The session offered an early look at Brian Flores’ defense as veterans and newcomers worked through assignments and technique development. Captured on June 9, 2026, the practice highlighted Minnesota’s preparation for the upcoming season. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The moment the Minnesota Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles for two 3rd-Round picks, they created a semi-urgent need at the outside linebacker position — if they don’t trust their in-house commodities.
The club has just over $13 million to spend in summer free agency, and all signs point to another EDGE defender if Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, or Chaz Chambliss don’t win the OLB3 job.
Vikings’ Pass Rush Depth Makes EDGE the Obvious Target
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches from the sideline during NFC Wild Card playoff action at State Farm Stadium. On Jan. 13, 2025, Flores managed defensive adjustments, personnel groupings, and situational strategy as Minnesota competed in a high-stakes postseason environment against one of the league’s top offensive teams. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Vikings Could Use FA Cash at OLB
Minnesota may not sign an OLB this week, but it should be on the mind of new general manager Nolan Teasley, according to The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis.
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He wrote Tuesday, “Trading Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles places major responsibility on third-year edge rusher Dallas Turner. It also emphasizes the depth behind Turner and Van Ginkel. The scheme can only go so far.”
“When one-on-one pass-rush opportunities present themselves, the Vikings need edge rushers who can win. Minnesota’s staff thinks highly of former undrafted edge rushers Chaz Chambliss, Bo Richter and Tyler Batty, though none of them have produced at the NFL level.”
Based on last year’s snap counts, Richter or Batty would likely get the OLB3 nod on the depth chart if Tealsey signs no newcomers.
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Lewis continued, “The Vikings have around $13 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, and some enticing free-agent edge rushers remain. The Vikings could wait until training camp to make a move.”
“But from a competitiveness standpoint, supplementing this position group seems paramount.”
The Options
If one assumes the Vikings don’t fire up a fancy trade for an EDGE defender — they probably won’t because they would’ve kept Greenard otherwise — free agency actually has a barrage of promising options. Assuming Minnesota doesn’t wait until the last minute, here’s the EDGE market right now:
The list is thick, and outside of Davenport — a former Viking who disappeared after a high ankle sprain in 2023 — fans would not be disappointedwith any man from this list.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Jadeveon Clowney participates in pregame warm-ups before an exhibition matchup against the New York Jets. On Aug. 17, 2024, the veteran pass rusher prepared for preseason action at Bank of America Stadium, continuing his role as one of the Panthers’ most experienced defensive contributors. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.
SKOR North‘s Judd Zulgad noted on Clowney in particular this week, “Clowney, who is 33, has 66.5 sacks in 153 games over 12 seasons with seven teams. Last season, he had 8.5 sacks in 13 games with Dallas. Teasley is familiar with Clowney, who spent the 2019 season in Seattle when Teasley was the Seahawks’ director of pro personnel.”
Rolling the Dice with a UDFA?
If it’s not a household name like Jordan, Clowney, Bosa, Floyd, or Miller, Minnesota would promote from within. Four in-house options are available after Van Ginkel and Turner, all the aforementioned undrafted free agents: Richter, Batty, Chambliss, and Cam’Ron Stewart.
As Lewis noted, there’s no way to know in June if those men have the juice for a full-time OLB3 role, but behind the scenes, defensive coordinator Brian Flores should know if any of the four is ready.
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Meanwhile, the longer the Vikings wait without signing a free-agent EDGE, the closer they get to riding with Richter, Batty, Chambliss, and Stewart. There’s also a chance that Minnesota waits until the post-cutdown market, when approximately 1,200 NFLers hit free agency or bide their time for a practice squad assignment.
Other Positions of Need?
Finally, the other spots on the roster that could use some love from Teasley. This list is not that long, believe it or not.
Minnesota has plenty of safeties, and if Harrison Smith returns, no more are needed. If Smith doesn’t return for Year No. 15, a free-agent safety cannot be ruled out if rookie Jakobe Thomas isn’t ready for the regular season.
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Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf joins newly hired general manager Nolan Teasley during an introductory press conference at team headquarters. On June 3, 2026, Teasley outlined his vision for the franchise, discussing roster construction, organizational goals, and collaboration with ownership as he formally began his tenure in Minnesota. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
With the safety caveat, the positions of need are down two spots in June, July, and August: cornerback and guard. Flores has Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre, rookie Charles Demmings, and Dwight McGlothern locked and loaded at CB. If the Vikings wanted to be ultra-deep, free agents like Trevon Diggs and Mike Hilton are looking for work.
At guard, the situation is similar to OLB. Should Joe Huber and Henry Byrd do the trick as depth, no more guards are required. The saving grace is that about 10 decent depth guards are on the free-agent wire.
Vikings training camp is about seven weeks away. A quality, big-name EDGE like Clowney or Bosa would likely cost around $10 million.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
England head coach Thomas Tuchel said the delay to their World Cup warm-up game with Costa Rica gave them a “little taste of what can happen” – but will that prove to be an understatement?
The match was due to start at 21:00 BST in Orlando, Florida, but heavy rain and thunderstorms pushed it back an hour to 22:00 BST.
Weather delays have been a major talking point in the build-up to this year’s World Cup, with several matches in last year’s Fifa Club World Cup in the United States impacted by thunderstorms.
This was not the first tournament warm-up game to suffer delays caused by storms either – and many fans are concerned it could become a theme throughout the World Cup.
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“We were aware of that before – now we experience it,” Tuchel told ITV before the game. “It’s no problem.
“It should not be an excuse to lose our mood or patience or to lose our hunger to play the game.
“No problem at all. We realised it when we were still at the hotel so it was easy. We just said half an hour later in the bus and let’s go.”
Fans who had already arrived at Inter&Co Stadium were told to evacuate from the stands and retreat to a safe position on the concourses to avoid lightning strikes.
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Thunderstorms in the US are not uncommon, but when it comes to them impacting matches, Fifa has no power to make its own rules and must adhere to the advice of local authorities.
Recommendations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are used and they say if any lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium, the game has to be stopped.
A mandatory 30-minute countdown begins and each time there is a lightning strike inside the distance, the countdown clock resets to 30 minutes.
If a full 30 minutes has elapsed, the supporters can go back to their seats and players will have a short warm-up.
Haiti have been forced into a late change on their World Cup 2026 shirts after Fifa accused them of violating its regulations on political speech.
Haiti, preparing to kick off their World Cup in Group C against Scotland in Boston on Saturday, previously had a shirt that depicted a war scene from the country’s battle for independence.
But shirt manufacturer Saeta confirmed on Wednesday that a swift, late change had been made after collaborating with the Haitian Football Federation on the design.
It previously was said to be geared towards “celebrating the pride, resilience, and spirit” of the Haitian people, with the Colombian manufactuer emphasising that it did not intend it to be a political statement.
“During the review process, FIFA determined that certain visual elements could be interpreted differently under its equipment regulations and ultimately requested modifications to the design,” Saeta said in a statement.
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Haiti’s home kit by Saeta (Saeta)
“While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by FIFA.”
Soccer’s world governing body FIFA, the Haitian Football Federation and the team’s media officer did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters for comment.
2 min read Last Updated : Jun 10 2026 | 10:36 AM IST
Lionel Messi is ready for his sixth World Cup.
After recovering from a muscle injury, the captain of the reigning world champions played 20 minutes and scored a penalty in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Iceland on Tuesday in its final tune-up match before the World Cup.
Messi, recovered from muscle fatigue and a slight strain in his left hamstring that he suffered in his last appearance with Inter Miami on May 24, started the game from the bench.
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Just days before his 39th birthday and his sixth World Cup, Messi came on in the 70th minute and he scored a penalty kick after Lautaro Martinez was fouled inside the area.
Messi, the all-time top scorer for the Argentine national team with 117 goals, converted the penalty with a high left-footed shot in the 72nd minute.
Argentina, seeking its fourth World Cup title after those won in 1978, 1986, and 2022, will open its tournament against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City in Group J, which also includes Austria and Jordan.
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It was the second match between the two nations. The first one was at the 2018 World Cup, when the European side managed a 1-1 draw in which Messi missed a penalty.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The FIFA World Cup has seen ‘Paul the Octopus’ – the famous eight-limbed soothsayer. In this age of AI and machine learning, predicting a World Cup winner has become more refined. Take, for example, Achim Zeileis, Professor of Statistics, University of Innsbruck. He has used “machine learning algorithm and subsequent simulations are fueled by data, expert knowledge and statistical models” to predict the likely winner of the FIFA World Cup 2026 – the biggest edition of the marquee event so far.
What Was the Process Followed to Predict the Winner?
Achim Zeileis says his algorithm proceeds in two steps. “In the first, sophisticated statistical models and expert insight from bookmakers and transfer markets are combined to determine the strengths of all teams and their players. In the second step, a machine learning algorithm decides how to best combine the strength estimates with other information about the teams,” he wrote in The Independent.
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“We ran the simulation 100,000 times to determine the tournament’s most likely course. The results show that Spain is the favourite for the title with a winning probability of 14.5%, closely followed by England and France, each at 12.4%, and Germany at 11.2%.”
“Portugal and Argentina also have good chances of winning the title, at 8.9% and 8.2%, respectively.”
A Deep Dive
Zeileis says his algorithm took note of four variables.
“First, all national matches over the past eight years are the basis for a “retrospective” estimate of the teams’ strengths. Second, a “prospective” strength estimate is obtained from quoted odds of various international bookmakers, reflecting their expert opinions about the upcoming tournament,” he wrote further.
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“Third, ratings of the individual players are produced based on their contributions to goals at the club and national levels. And finally, the current quality and future potential of the players are reflected in their expected market values. These are available from the Transfermarkt website, which uses a wisdom-of-the-crowd approach to estimate the unknown real market values.
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Nigeria’s Super Eagles produced a spirited performance but suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Portugal in an international friendly match played in Leiria on Wednesday night.
Before kick-off, Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi was honoured for making his 100th appearance for Nigeria. The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, alongside NFF Executive Committee member Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, presented him with a special framed shirt to mark the milestone.
Portugal, led by football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, started brightly but found a determined Nigerian side ready to compete.
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Ronaldo had an early chance in the ninth minute but failed to beat goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. At the other end, striker Akor Adams also went close but dragged his effort wide.
Portugal took the lead in the 23rd minute when Pedro Neto fired past Okoye from close range after a pass from Diogo Dalot.
Okoye then produced a brilliant save to deny Bruno Fernandes in the 33rd minute before Ronaldo narrowly missed with a header moments later.
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Nigeria continued to push forward and got their reward in the 37th minute. Adams won possession in midfield, made a run into the box and finished confidently after receiving a pass from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to make it 1-1.
The Super Eagles remained competitive after the break, with Okoye making two important saves from João Félix. Ronaldo also continued searching for a goal but could not find the target.
On the hour mark, Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle introduced several substitutes, including Terem Moffi, Raphael Onyedika and Frank Onyeka. The changes gave Nigeria fresh energy as they continued to trouble the hosts.
However, Portugal found the winning goal with 15 minutes remaining. Francisco Conceição cut in from the right and fired home to restore his side’s lead.
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Okoye made another impressive save late in the game to deny Félix, but Nigeria could not find an equaliser before the final whistle.
Despite the defeat, the Super Eagles earned praise for their fighting spirit and strong display against a Portugal side preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The loss was only the second defeat in regular time for Chelle since taking charge of Nigeria 15 months ago.
Welcome to Fully Fit 2026, GOLF’s new platform for providing you with real-golfer insights into what 2026 gear might be best suited for your game. To this end, we assembled six GOLF content creators of varying abilities and ran them through the gauntlet of six full-bag fittings (driver to putter!) at six major club manufacturers in Phoenix and Carlsbad, Calif. Our hope: that you might see shades of your own game in one of our panelists’ and take some learnings and inspiration from their fitting experiences. In this installment (below), Jack Hirsh details his low-torque putter journey around Fully Fit 2026. You may browse each of our panelists’ full 2026 dream bags here:
The biggest surprise for me during our six-day club-fitting bonanza back in December was during a putter fitting at TaylorMade’s Kingdom.
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No, I wasn’t knocked off my feet by how good the Spider Tour and Spider Tour X putters are — although they are tremendous putters.
Instead, my “Aha” moment came with the newer of TaylorMade’s Spider models, the Spider ZT, TaylorMade’s take on the low-torque, or “zero-torque,” putting phenomenon that has captivated the marketplace over the past two years.
Editor’s note: Given that even “zero-torque” putters still have torque to get them to balance toe-up, GOLF refers to these types of putters as “low-torque.”
During a putter fitting, I came with two “gamers.” A face-balanced blade and a low-torque mid-mallet that I had committed to using for several months to see what it would do to my putting stroke.
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After a couple of strokes with a comparable TaylorMade blade, we jumped into the Spider ZT, where the result left me in a rare speechless moment.
On the first attempt, I recorded a face angle of 0.01 ° at impact on the GEARS system. That meant I returned the putter face nearly perfectly square. Good putters typically have up to a degree of face angle variance. A professional golfer typically records anywhere within a half degree. After a few more attempts, I kept getting within that half-degree threshold.
Am I the ideal candidate for low-torque putters? As I have found out, it’s not that simple.
My low-torque putting experiment
For some background, until I had this job as GOLF’s associate equipment editor, I had used either a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 or Newport 2.5+ with Teryllium inserts for 15 years. I never knew a mallet, and I liked a soft feel.
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A putter fitting — realistically, my first ever — with Bettinardi last spring showed me that the short slant on my Newport 2.5+ had too much toe hang and I’d be better off using something more face-balanced. My stroke was more like a pendulum, with very little face rotation, rather than an arc like I thought it was.
I was using blades like that and seeing improvements, especially from short and mid-range, until Scotty Cameron released their Onset Center Fastback and Phantom 11R, the company’s first low-torque putters. Immediately, I was intrigued, especially by the Fastback OC, as it was a shape that I already knew I liked — a mid-mallet that was far off spaceship territory — had little shaft lean and had Scotty Cameron’s new and very soft Studio Carbon Steel insert.
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Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback OC Putter
As an extension of the popular Studio Style Fastback design, the Studio Style Fastback OC is a low-torque model featuring the same ring-weighted, high-alignment, multi-material design of the other Fastback models, but with Scotty’s tour-validated OC technology package. Featuring onset center shaft placement behind the putter face’s leading edge, the straight shaft is precisely positioned in line with the putter head’s CG location and leans 1° forward. This allows for low-torque performance and face alignment that stays square to the path.
STUDIO CARBON STEEL (SCS) FACE INSERT
The Studio Style Fastback OC includes a chain-link milled Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) insert for soft sound and feel, treated with an electroless nickel plating for enhanced durability with aerospace-inspired vibration damping for tuned sound, feel and performance.
CUSTOM BLACK SHAFT
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Custom made for the new OC putters, each model includes a special black KBS x Scotty Cameron shaft with optimal flex, unimpeded alignment and precise feel.
CUSTOM MATADOR GRIP
With a debossed chain-link texture built-in, each new OC putter includes a custom 11-inch mid-size Matador grip in black with racy red and cool gray accents.
In my first tests, I didn’t have a left miss, which to that point, I’d experienced with almost every low-torque putter I’d tried except the Spider ZT. I put some impact tape on the face just out of curiosity and saw my strike was dead center.
My first rolls with the Scotty Cameron Fastback OC.
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
That was when I came up with this experiment, and my experience at the Kingdom only further proved to me that I was on the right track.
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For the next few months, I planned to putt exclusively with low-torque putters as a means of resetting my putting stroke.
Until my putter fitting with Bettinardi, I felt like my putting was holding me back. I struggled big time with pulls, especially from short range and couldn’t convert enough 10-20 foot mid-range putts. I started putting better after the putter changes, but I figured, why not try to reset everything and potentially start fresh in 2026?
After TaylorMade, I wondered if the experiment would ever end. But by April, it was, and I had learned a ton.
My results with low-torque putters
The primary putters I used for the experiment were the Scotty Cameron Fastback OC and the Spider ZT, both at 35″ and standard lie angles of 70 degrees. I also dabbled with a L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i and had some good initial success, but the milled steel insert was too firm for me, and I struggled with pace.
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The blade putters I used in 2025 were slightly longer at 35.5″ and flatter at 67 degrees, but with both putters, my stroke was consistent and my eyes were in similar positions in the stock length and lie.
Both putters I gripped with the Golf Pride Reverse Taper Pistol Medium, slightly larger than the small version I’d been using on all my other putters. I did this because, to be most effective with a low-torque putter, I needed to remove my hands from the stroke, and a bigger grip helps that.
At first, the results were good. I trended toward the Cameron a little more because of its more compact shape and the softer insert, which I felt helped with distance control.
The Spider ZT had plenty of advantages, though, thanks to its larger, high-MOI shape. With that putter, I knew I could make a bad stroke and still have it go in.
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TaylorMade Spider 5K-ZT Black Putter
LOW TORQUE DESIGN
The KBS putter shaft is bored directly toe-ward near the CG at a 1° shaft lean with 25mm onset behind the face allowing golfers to realize the benefits of a new stable, toe up design.
UNIQUE SOLE SHAPING
New and improved sole shaping to work specifically with this unique hosel configuration, engineers worked tirelessly to find new ways to improve accuracy from the moment the putter is placed behind the ball. The new sole curvature accommodates different player types and ball positions, giving golfers the ability to find a consistent and repeatable stroke.
SPIDER STABILITY
Combining high density stainless steel and low-density aerospace quality aluminum provides the perfect foundation for a design that is high MOI and allows for a shaft orientation that sits closer to the face.
MILLED TRUE PATH™ ALIGNMENT
Based on tour player feedback, we were tasked to find a new premium alignment system. Building on the classic TaylorMade True Path™ technology, milled lines the width of the golf ball were added helping golfers properly index to center face.
For the most part, my pulls on short putts, especially right-to-left breakers, were eliminated, but I didn’t realize at what cost for a few months.
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Eventually, my left miss came back because I became fearful of a right miss. The thing with low-torque putters is that they resist the urge to twist either direction. I’ve putted for years with the feeling of the blade opening and then closing. Whether it matched my stroke or not, I needed to feel like the blade closes through the stroke.
This is when I got into a phase of battle golf on the green, either pushing the putt because I was actively trying to avoid feeling my natural release through the putt, or pulling it because I forced myself to close the blade, even though the putter was already square.
I had grown up on a feel and now that feel was dulled.
What I’m using now
Ironically, the putter I’m using now was presented to me during Fully Fit, and I passed because I didn’t understand what it was.
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The Ping Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue Onset looks like a low-torque putter, but it’s actually something entirely different. For starters, the Ally Blue Onset has toe hang. It’s minimal, just five degrees, but the toe does not point up when balanced.
That’s because instead of aligning the Ally Blue Onset’s shaft through the center of gravity of the putter, Ping placed it in front of the CG, meaning the stroke pulls the CG, like a truck towing a trailer. The configuration does lower the putter’s torque profile, but it’s not far off from Ping’s Anser either.
The shaft is still back off the face, but it gives a completely unobstructed view of the face to aid alignment. The Scottsdale TEC EyeQ technology also has a number of alignment aids built in that GOLF’s Jake Morrow just dove deep into.
With that unique CG placement relative to shaft axis, what I got is a super stable putter that gave me just the right feeling of release through the ball. Finally, I had a putter that I could stroke freely and trust the ball would come off on my intended line.
The Scottsdale TEC insert is made of super-soft PEBAX material. It’s the first non-milled putter I’ve ever used, but the soft feel is very similar to what I’ve liked my whole life.
When at Ping’s PLD Putting Lab for my fitting last December, the fitter asked if I wanted to try the then-unreleased Ally Blue Onset. I thought it was another low-torque option and I wasn’t ready to commit to either a traditional-sized mallet or a putter without a milled insert. My tune changed after my Kingdom experience.
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Would I like to go back to the PLD Lab and see if we could get this Ally Blue Onset further dialed in? It will probably happen at some point, but until then, I’m not worried that I’m leaving anything on the table.
What I learned
Let me be clear: If anyone asked to make an eight-foot, dead straight putt for a million dollars, I’d be comfortable using any one of these putters. In an indoor fitting environment where I know the target is a straight putt with no break, a low-torque putter is simply point-and-shoot.
But for a golfer like me, who has thousands upon thousands, maybe even millions(?) of reps of releasing the toe of a putter, breaking putts becomes challenging.
So I learned that an indoor putter fitting is great, but I need to validate that experience on the golf course and hit breaking putts.
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The second thing is that using a low-torque putter did have a pretty significant impact on my stroke.
While I did fight the concept for a while, my stroke was refined through months of trying to reduce the manipulations of my hands. Now I can still feel the release of the putter while also keeping my hands quiet through the stroke.
The Ping is the best putter for me. But I find that whenever I pick up my old Scotty Cameron blades, I have a much easier time hitting the center than before.
“Going to the Jailbird, kind of that longer length, a lot heavier, helped kind of quiet and take the hands out of it a bit,” Fowler, who moved from a L.A.B. putter to a center-shafted Scotty Cameron GoLo this year, said. “And then from there went into messing with the L.A.B.s, still helping take the hands out of it a bit, but at a lighter, kind of shorter setup to help try and bring some feel back into it.”
Like Fowler, I also got over any aversion to center-shafted putters.
Not really a low-torque putter, but it still fits in the category if we define it by onset putters. This has been my gamer, somewhat surprisingly, in my first two competitive rounds of the year, and I’ve yet to have a competitive three-putt.
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Despite the onset shaft, there’s no shaft lean, which makes this feel just like a traditional putter to me; I just place the ball a little more forward in my stance.
The insert also really surprised me for how responsive it is. The original Scottsdale line from 2025 had a similar PEBAX insert, which even I found was too soft. The Scottsdale TEC — probably because the rest of the putter is a milled aluminum and steel construction — feels much more like the soft milled putters I’ve used before.
Scotty Cameron Fastback OC
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Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback OC Putter
As an extension of the popular Studio Style Fastback design, the Studio Style Fastback OC is a low-torque model featuring the same ring-weighted, high-alignment, multi-material design of the other Fastback models, but with Scotty’s tour-validated OC technology package. Featuring onset center shaft placement behind the putter face’s leading edge, the straight shaft is precisely positioned in line with the putter head’s CG location and leans 1° forward. This allows for low-torque performance and face alignment that stays square to the path.
STUDIO CARBON STEEL (SCS) FACE INSERT
The Studio Style Fastback OC includes a chain-link milled Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) insert for soft sound and feel, treated with an electroless nickel plating for enhanced durability with aerospace-inspired vibration damping for tuned sound, feel and performance.
CUSTOM BLACK SHAFT
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Custom made for the new OC putters, each model includes a special black KBS x Scotty Cameron shaft with optimal flex, unimpeded alignment and precise feel.
CUSTOM MATADOR GRIP
With a debossed chain-link texture built-in, each new OC putter includes a custom 11-inch mid-size Matador grip in black with racy red and cool gray accents.
I like the feel and look of this low-torque putter the best.
Unlike most low-torque designs, this isn’t a high-MOI shape, so it’s easier for someone who has played a blade to transition to it.
What did me in here was the heavier-designed weight, which didn’t totally mesh with my quicker stroke tempo. I also found that I was launching this putter with backspin, again potentially having something to do with the heavier headweight. This could potentially be solved with the adjustable weights, but I haven’t tried that yet.
For someone with a more deliberate pace who likes the soft feel, this could work out really well.
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TaylorMade Spider ZT Black
TaylorMade Spider 5K-ZT Black Putter
LOW TORQUE DESIGN
The KBS putter shaft is bored directly toe-ward near the CG at a 1° shaft lean with 25mm onset behind the face allowing golfers to realize the benefits of a new stable, toe up design.
UNIQUE SOLE SHAPING
New and improved sole shaping to work specifically with this unique hosel configuration, engineers worked tirelessly to find new ways to improve accuracy from the moment the putter is placed behind the ball. The new sole curvature accommodates different player types and ball positions, giving golfers the ability to find a consistent and repeatable stroke.
SPIDER STABILITY
Combining high density stainless steel and low-density aerospace quality aluminum provides the perfect foundation for a design that is high MOI and allows for a shaft orientation that sits closer to the face.
MILLED TRUE PATH™ ALIGNMENT
Based on tour player feedback, we were tasked to find a new premium alignment system. Building on the classic TaylorMade True Path™ technology, milled lines the width of the golf ball were added helping golfers properly index to center face.
This is one of the most popular low-torque putters on the market for good reason.
Due to the Pure Roll insert’s great forward roll, I tried to give this putter as much of a chance as possible after the fitting. But it just didn’t translate to the course, and I found myself trying to steer it.
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If you’re someone who wants a point-and-shoot putter with tons of forgiveness, look no further.
L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i HS
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L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i HS Custom Putter
It’s heel-shafted. It’s still L.A.B. Heel-shafted putters have been around forever. No reason they shouldn’t be balanced. OZ.1i HS is the first heel-shafted putter with Lie Angle Balance, giving golfers the traditional look so many love with the ease of use that defines L.A.B.
This isn’t just an OZ.1 i with a different neck. Lie Angle Balance demands precision, so we re-engineered the OZ.1 i chassis for a no-compromise heel-shafted design. Our proprietary aluminum riser connects the shaft to the head in a way that maintains Lie Angle Balance and delivers the same forgiveness as the OZ.1i.
Golfers who prefer a heel-shafted look no longer have to compromise on performance. And because it’s a L.A.B., you can count on every putter being individually built and balanced. With OZ.1i HS, it’s not where the shaft goes. It’s where the ball goes.
This is my favorite L.A.B. putter so far, but I just didn’t vibe with the super firm feel off the face, despite pairing it with the softer Accra shaft.
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I also used a 0 ° shaft-lean option, which really helped me avoid a left start line.
Honorable mention: Spider Tour Torched Small Slant
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TaylorMade 2026 Spider Tour Small Slant Custom Putter
TORCHED PVD FINISH
The durable PVD coating creates a beautiful high-quality finish.
THIN WALL UNDERCUT CONSTRUCTION
We’ve engineered a super stable structure by removing excess weight to create high MOI and legendary Spider performance.
CG LOCATION PROGRESSION
Each Spider Torched model features different CG locations for optimal putter fitting.
HYBRAR ECHO® DAMPENER
HYBRAR is behind the face to dampen unwanted vibrations, delivering premium sound and feel on every putt with the best possible sensation.
I just received the Spider Tour during the run-up to the release of the 2026 line, and I’ve never had the chance to try out the small slant necks on the Spider before.
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Turns out they work really well with my stroke, and I look forward to more testing. However, I’m not looking to change anything with my gamer at the moment.
Honorable mention: Bettinardi BB28 2026 and Scotty Cameron Catalina
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Scotty Cameron Studio Style Catalina Custom Putter
STUDIO CARBON STEEL (SCS) FACE INSERT
Designed to deliver the unmistakably soft sound and feel of carbon, the new precision milled Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) insert is treated with an electroless nickel plating for enhanced durability in a re-engineered concept that includes the line’s new chain-link face milling technology and aerospace-inspired vibration damping for tuned sound, feel and performance.
CHAIN-LINK FACE MILLING TECHNOLOGY
New chain-link face milling technology reduces the putter face insert’s touch points at impact with the ball using a texture that softens the sound and provides improved roll characteristics while preserving feel and feedback off the putter face.
FULL CONTACT SLIM GRIP
With a comfortable chain-link texture to match the new putter face milling pattern, the custom crafted Full Contact Slim paddle-style grip was designed to complement stroke and performance of blade and mid-mallet putters. Its uniquely contoured profile and flat top provide superior comfort and contact between the hands and the putter, and enhanced body alignment.
MID-BEND SHAFT
The Studio Style Catalina is designed with a stepless steel shaft engineered to minimize face rotation—or arc—in the putting stroke by incorporating a single “mid” bend aimed directly down the target line.
World governing body Fifa has struck a landmark deal with global players’ union Fifpro that means players will be represented when major decisions affecting the game are agreed.
Faced with a number of separate legal claims around player welfare, Fifa has agreed a memorandum of understanding with Fifpro, which it says “marks [a] paradigm shift in governance of professional football, with transfer system and player welfare standards”.
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For the first time, Fifpro will have a veto over key areas of the game’s governance and also observer access, with speaking rights, at the powerful Fifa Council, the decision-making body of global football.
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Fifa says it has struck the deal on the condition that all legal proceedings against it, initiated by Fifpro, are withdrawn.
In October 2024, Fifpro filed an “abuse of dominance” claim against Fifa around the overcrowded match calendar.
Earlier this week, former France midfielder Lassana Diarrareached a settlement in his damages claim, initially for 65 million euros (£56.1m), against Fifa and the Belgian Football Association after his contract was cancelled by Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow and he was subsequently denied a transfer to Charleroi in 2014.
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One of the key elements of the agreement is that players will have greater protection from what are regarded as abusive practices, including forcing them to train on their own, withholding passports or abusing registration procedures.
In those circumstances, players will be able to cancel their contracts and still receive the payments they are due under those contracts, claim compensation for justifiable expenses and potentially demand an extra six months’ pay in damages.
Clubs that fail to respect their contractual obligations will face swifter and more effective sporting and financial consequences.
Fifpro president Sergio Marchi said: “This agreement represents an important step forward for football. Ensuring that players and their representatives have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their careers is not only beneficial for footballers, but for the game as a whole.”
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Speaking at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City a day before the World Cup begins, Fifa president Gianno Infantino hailed the agreement.
“It’s about unity, about bringing everyone together,” he said.
“We’ve always been having dialogues. Now, sometimes you don’t agree, when you don’t agree, well, you can go and say it to everyone, or you can sit down and discuss and see what makes sense.
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“So, we signed a memorandum of understanding with Fifpro, everything is agreed.”
Good news, but issues remain – analysis
This all looks very positive, but it is not quite perfect.
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The major issue over the congested match calendar is still to be resolved, and it is understood the Professional Footballers’ Association is not yet in a position to back down from its own legal threat,
It remains to be seen if a resolution for the outstanding issues can be found and, if it cannot, whether Infantino will threaten to pull the plug on the whole agreement.
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However, for now, the players’ voice is starting to be heard.
For too long, it has appeared the people most responsible for the enduring worldwide appeal of the game have no input into the major decisions around it. That is beginning to change.
;)
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