Scottie Scheffler showcased a new putting grip at the Hero World Challenge, resulting in a satisfying 5-under 67 round, placing him three shots behind leader Cameron Young. Young, returning to competition after a three-month hiatus, excelled on the greens at Albany Golf Club, sinking four birdie putts from 15 feet or longer for a stellar 64.
Justin Thomas, playing his first event since becoming a father, trailed Young by two shots after a strong finish with four consecutive birdies. Scheffler, the top-ranked player in golf with eight victories this year, including an Olympic gold medal, decided to experiment with a new 'saw' putting grip, aiming to enhance his performance.
Having recently started working with putting coach Phil Kenyon, Scheffler adopted this alternative grip for putts within 20 feet, which showed promise in his opening round. Scheffler expressed his constant pursuit of improvement and the positive impact he felt from the new technique.
Young, known as one of the best players without a PGA Tour win, viewed the tournament as a fresh start to the season. He focused on strengthening his game and displayed exceptional short game skills during his bogey-free round in the Bahamas.
Other notable performances included Patrick Cantlay, Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia, and Sahith Theegala, all finishing at 67. Thomas, experimenting with a longer driver for added speed, found success with the new equipment, gaining extra distance off the tee.
With favorable conditions leading to low scores, only four players failed to break par, with Jason Day posting a 75. The Hero World Challenge continues to provide an exciting platform for top golfers to fine-tune their skills and test new strategies.
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