This promising teen switched to a mallet putter because of Scottie Scheffler and now is contending at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur

“He changed to a mallet and won two in a row, so I’m like, why not me?”

Seventeen-year-old Eila Galitsky switched to a mallet putter for one reason: Scottie Scheffler. Galistky, who is currently contending at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur after an opening 5-under 67, made the switch less than a week ago.

“He changed to a mallet and won two in a row, so I’m like, why not me?” she explained.

The new mallet putter, she said, has given her a confidence on the greens she hasn’t had before. Combine that with an average carry distance of 265 yards off the tee, and the South Carolina commit is becoming a force to reckon with in the amateur game.

The Thai player won the 2023 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific to earn a spot in last year’s field but said she wasn’t prepared for the weather conditions she found in Georgia and missed the cut. This year, she traveled over early and played in the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley beforehand to acclimate and tied for third.

ANWA: Photos

At last year’s Chevron Championship, Galitsky tied for 28th and earned low amateur honors.

Top-ranked Scheffler debuted the TaylorMade Spider Tour X mallet at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and won by five, leading the field in strokes gained putting. Then he won again at the Players Championship and is the undisputed favorite heading into the Masters.

5 things to know about 16-year-old amateur Eila Galitsky, who’s near the top of the leaderboard at the 2023 Chevron Championship

Galitsky shot the same score as Georgia Hall and beat Brooke Henderson, Celine Boutier and others. 

There are seven amateurs competing in the first women’s major championship of 2023, and one of them has found her way near the top of the leaderboard.

Eila Galitsky, a 16-year-old from Thailand, shot 2-under 70 on Thursday during the opening round of the Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas. She was tied for third after the morning wave and is making noise, keeping herself in the hunt.

Galitsky shot the same score as Georgia Hall and was better than Brooke Henderson, Celine Boutier and others.

Here are five things you need to know about Galitsky: