Simpson holds onto share of the lead at Sony Open with short putter
Typically, golfers break clubs when they — the equipment — behave badly. Golfers don’t usually snap clubs to prevent bad behavior.
Webb Simpson did just that, however, as he was making the transition from using a belly putter with an anchored stroke to a traditional putter-stroke combo. As Simpson moved into his PGA Tour off-season, he committed to making the switch. Just so he wouldn’t be tempted to fall back to the method he adopted in college and that will be banned come 2016, Simpson broke his trusty belly putter.
Simpson made the official switch to the dubbed short putter at the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan in November. He debuted it on the PGA Tour on Thursday in the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii, shooting a career-low, 8-under 62 to share the tournament lead with Paul Casey.
The 2012 U.S. Open champion cooled off on Day 2, but carded 4-under 66 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu to maintain a share of the tournament lead. It’s not Casey tied for the lead now, but Matt Kuchar, who shot 7-under 63, and rookie Justin Thomas, who made an eagle at the closing par 5 to shoot 9-under 61 for 2015’s best round. All three are tied at 12-under 128 through 36 holes.
Lurking two shots behind the lead trio is Tim Clark, who has also used an anchored stroke for years. Clark, however, is clutching to the soon-to-be outlawed putting stroke until the proverbial 11th hour.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
