NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler introduced a new putting technique at the Hero World Challenge, yielding a satisfying 5-under 67 that placed him three strokes behind tournament leader Cameron Young on Thursday.
Young made his return to competitive golf for the first time since the BMW Championship over three months ago. He excelled on the greens at Albany Golf Club, displaying impressive chipping skills and sinking four birdie putts from 15 feet or beyond, finishing the day with a score of 64.
He held a two-shot lead over Justin Thomas, who was participating in his first tournament since the birth of his daughter a few weeks ago. Thomas went on a remarkable four-birdie streak late in his round and narrowly missed a fifth birdie.
A major highlight of the day was Scheffler, currently ranked as the top golfer in the world, showcasing some of his best play of the year. He has achieved eight victories, including an Olympic gold medal, but recognized that inconsistent putting at times has hindered him from achieving even more significant wins. To remedy this, Scheffler decided to experiment with a “saw” putting grip from approximately 20 feet in, where the putter is held between the thumb and fingers of his right hand, with his left index finger pointed down the shaft.
“I’m always looking for ways to improve,” Scheffler remarked. He began collaborating with renowned putting coach Phil Kenyon last year, who had suggested the alternative grip at that time.
“This year, I thought about it occasionally, and we decided to revisit it as the season came to a close,” he added. “I thought this week would be an excellent opportunity to try something new.”
Scheffler started strong, making a wedge shot to just 2 feet but missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the third hole. He then made up for it on the next par 5, No. 6, sinking a birdie from a similar distance, saving par with a 6-footer on the ninth, and finishing with a 12-foot birdie putt on his last hole.
“I really enjoyed the way it felt,” he stated. “I feel like I’m seeing some improvements in my stroke.”
Young, who is often ranked as the best player on the tour without a victory, views this holiday tournament as the beginning of a new season. He has been focusing on strength training and returning to the fundamentals of his powerful swing.
On this particular day, his short game was on point, only facing challenges to save par twice and gathering birdies in his bogey-free round during ideal Bahamian conditions.
“The wind was calm, so it was a relatively stress-free experience,” Young noted.
Patrick Cantlay, who, along with Scheffler, was playing for the first time since the Presidents Cup, also shot a 67, joining other competitors like Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia, and Sahith Theegala.
Thomas took this opportunity to experiment with a longer 46-inch driver, an inch longer than his usual driver, in hopes of increasing speed. Taking advantage of the windless day and the spacious course, he gave it a shot.
“I just need to get the club in front of me and be more aggressive with my swing,” Thomas explained. “I hit it exceptionally well on the back nine, which was encouraging.”
The longer driver has provided him with an extra 2 to 3 mph in ball speed and an additional 10 yards in distance.
“It’s a specific tool for certain courses, but it was worth trying today,” he said.
With favorable conditions, only four players out of the competitive field were unable to break par, with Jason Day finishing at 75.
