NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler introduced a brand new placing grip to the Hero World Problem and felt sufficient enchancment to be glad with the end result, a 5-under 67 that left him three photographs behind Cameron Younger on Thursday.
Younger was enjoying for the primary time because the BMW Championship greater than three months in the past and located nice success on and across the greens of Albany Golf Membership, chipping superbly and holing 4 birdie putts from 15 toes or longer for his 64.
He led by two photographs over Justin Thomas in his first competitors since his daughter was born a number of weeks in the past. Thomas ran off 4 straight birdies late in his spherical and was a fraction of an inch away with a fifth.
The massive shock was Scheffler, the No. 1 participant in golf who regarded nearly as good as he has all 12 months in compiling eight victories, together with an Olympic gold medal. His iron play has no equal. His placing at occasions has stored him from successful extra or successful greater. He determined to attempt to a “noticed” placing grip from about 20 toes or nearer — the putter rests between his proper thumb and his fingers, together with his left index finger pointed down the shaft.
“I am all the time in search of methods to enhance,” Scheffler stated.
Scheffler final 12 months started working with famend placing teacher Phil Kenyon, and he says Kenyon talked about the choice placing grip again then.
“However it was actually our first time working collectively and it is one thing that is completely different than what I’ve carried out prior to now,” Scheffler stated. “This 12 months I had thought of it once in a while, and it was one thing that we had simply stated let’s desk that for the tip of the season, check out it.
“Figured it is a good week to attempt stuff.”
He opened with a wedge to 2 toes and he missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 third. However he holed a birdie from about the identical distance on the subsequent par 5, No. 6, and holed a sliding 6-footer on the ninth to avoid wasting par.
His longest putt was his final gap, from 12 toes for a closing birdie.
“I actually loved the best way it felt,” he stated. “I felt like I am seeing some enhancements in my stroke.”
Younger, thought to be the very best energetic participant with out a PGA Tour victory, is treating this vacation event as the beginning of a brand new season. He labored on getting stronger and acquired again to the fundamentals in his highly effective golf swing.
And on at the present time, he was dialed in together with his brief sport. He solely struggled to avoid wasting par twice and stored piling up birdies in his bogey-free spherical on a great day within the Bahamas.
“The wind wasn’t blowing a lot, so it was comparatively stress-free,” Younger stated.
Patrick Cantlay, together with Scheffler enjoying for the primary time because the Presidents Cup, additionally was at 67 with Ludvig Åberg, Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala.
Thomas additionally took this event to do some experimenting in opposition to a 20-man area. He has utilizing a 46-inch driver at house — a little bit greater than an inch longer than his common driver — in a bid to achieve extra pace. On a day with little wind, on a golf course with some room off the tee, he determined to place it in play.
“Simply with it being a little bit bit longer, I simply form of should get the membership out in entrance of me and get on prime of it a little bit bit extra,” Thomas stated. “I drove the hell out of it on the again, in order that was good to attempt one thing completely different and have it go a little bit bit higher on the again.”
Thomas stated the longer driver offers him 2 or 3 mph in ball pace and 10 further yards within the air.
“It is very particular for programs, however gave it a attempt,” he stated.
Situations had been simple sufficient that solely 4 gamers in area failed to interrupt par, with Jason Day citing the rear with a 75.
