Denny McCarthy’s intriguing putter change paid off in the first round of the Sony Open.
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Denny McCarthy is one of the best putters on the PGA Tour. Last season, McCarthy finished fourth in the Strokes Gained: Putting rankings, fourth in putts per round and seventh in one-putt percentage.
But even the best in the world have to tinker when things don’t go right.
After struggling on the greens en route to a tie for 46th at Sentry, McCarthy decided to make wholesale changes to his putter beforehand. this week’s Sony Open.
“I’ve been feeling a little off with my putter lately,” McCarthy he told SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio after Thursday’s first round. “I had to look at something different this week. Scottie Cameron – New putter, new insert, new grip, and even changed the length a bit. I just wanted something completely different.”
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The change was good for McCarthy in the first round at Waialae Country Club. The 31-year-old made a 55-yard putt for a bogey-free card with a 6-under 64. He sits at the top of the leaderboard alongside Harry Hall, Eric Cole, Adam Schenk, Tom Hoge and Paul Peterson. Six players are one shot back at 5 under.
“I just had a hard time looking at my putter,” McCarthy told reporters after the round. “I haven’t been feeling well lately. I don’t know what’s going on, but things just haven’t looked great for the past few months. I struggled with this.
“So after last week I kind of decided I wanted to change things up this week, just look at something different, and I really liked that feeling. I checked out a few different putters, tried them on the green and landed on this one, and it feels pretty good.
McCarthy will look to continue his good form on Friday when it launches at 6:10 p.m. EST with Charley Hoffman and Alex Smalley.
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