Denny McCarthy’s intriguing change of putter paid off in Round 1 of the Sony Open.
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Denny McCarthy is one of the best players on the PGA Tour. Last season, McCarthy ranked fourth in Strokes Gained: Putting, fourth in strokes gained per round and seventh in putt percentage.
But even the best in the world have to mess up when things aren’t going their way.
After struggling with the greens en route to a tie for 46th at Sentry, McCarthy decided to make wholesale changes to his tee shot early. This week’s Sony Open.
“I’ve been feeling a little uncomfortable with my pitcher lately,” McCarthy told SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio after Thursday’s first round. “I needed to look at something different this week. Scottie Cameron – new putter, new innings, new catch, even changed the length a bit. I just wanted something completely different.”
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The change worked for McCarthy in the first round at Waialae Country Club. The 31-year-old putt over 145 feet to card a bogey-free, six-under 64. He is tied atop the leaderboard along with Harry Hall, Eric Cole, Adam Schenk, Tom Hoge and Paul Peterson. Six players are one shot back at 5 under.
“I was just kind of struggling looking up my putter,” McCarthy told reporters after his round. “It just hasn’t felt right lately. I don’t know what’s going on, but it just hasn’t looked good on my eyes for the past couple of months. I have fought it.
“So after last week, I kind of decided I wanted to change this week, just something different to watch, and I really liked how that felt. I went through a few different poles, trying them out on the green, and I sat on this one and it feels really good.”
McCarthy will be looking to keep the flat bat hot on Friday when he leaves at 6:10 PM ET with Charley Hoffman and Alex Smalley.
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