NASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler introduced a brand new placing grip to the Hero World Problem and felt sufficient enchancment to be happy with the end result, a 5-under 67 that left him three pictures behind Cameron Younger on Thursday.
Younger was enjoying for the primary time for the reason that BMW Championship greater than three months in the past and located nice success on and across the greens of Albany Golf Membership, chipping fantastically and holing 4 birdie putts from 15 toes or longer for his 64.
He led by two pictures over Justin Thomas in his first competitors since his daughter was born a couple 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.
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The massive shock was Scheffler, the No. 1 participant in golf who seemed nearly as good as he has all yr 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, along with his left index finger pointed down the shaft.
“I am at all times in search of methods to enhance,” Scheffler mentioned.
Scheffler final yr started working with famend placing teacher Phil Kenyon, and he says Kenyon talked about the choice placing grip again then.
“Nevertheless it was actually our first time working collectively and it is one thing that is totally different than what I’ve accomplished previously,” Scheffler mentioned. “This yr I had considered it infrequently, and it was one thing that we had simply mentioned 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 save lots of par.
His longest putt was his final gap, from 12 toes for a closing birdie.
“I actually loved the best way it felt,” he mentioned. “I felt like I am seeing some enhancements in my stroke.”
Younger, considered the very best energetic participant and not using 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 along with his brief recreation. He solely struggled to save lots of par twice and stored piling up birdies in his bogey-free spherical on an excellent day within the Bahamas.
“The wind wasn’t blowing a lot, so it was comparatively stress-free,” Younger mentioned.
Patrick Cantlay, together with Scheffler enjoying for the primary time for the reason that 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 — just a little greater than an inch longer than his common driver — in a bid to achieve extra velocity. 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 just a little bit longer, I simply sort of must get the membership out in entrance of me and get on high of it just a little bit extra,” Thomas mentioned. “I drove the hell out of it on the again, in order that was good to attempt one thing totally different and have it go just a little bit higher on the again.”
Thomas mentioned the longer driver offers him 2 or 3 mph in ball velocity and 10 further yards within the air.
“It’s extremely particular for programs, however gave it a attempt,” he mentioned.
Circumstances had been straightforward sufficient that solely 4 gamers in area failed to interrupt par, with Jason Day citing the rear with a 75.
