Big Tone
We have no idea what this Tony Finau putting setup was about but it worked on Thursday
When it came to putting talk on Thursday, it was all about Will Zalatoris, AKA Willy Broomstick. That experiment seemed to be paying dividends early, with Zalatoris dropping a 23-footer for birdie on No. 1 to make his "return" official.
Zalatoris then promptly shot 81, losing nearly six (!) strokes on the greens in the process. The definition of "boy, that escalated quickly..."
The broomstick experiment is very much a work in progress, and Zalatoris deserves all the time he needs to figure it out. As for Tony Finau, he seems to have already figured out a new routine on the greens, though that didn't make this clip from the final hole of his first round any less head-scratching:
That was certainly ... something. Now, if you'll notice, this is the 18th green, and it's unclear if this was something he was doing throughout his round or just on the final green. Either way, two full re-grips a la Sergio Garcia at Bethpage Black in 2002, over a three-foot putt, is not something you see every day.
While most in the replies are saying things like "yips!" and "disgusting," whatever this was clearly worked for Finau on Thursday at the Hero World Challenge. He gained just under a half a stroke on the greens and opened with a five under 67 to take a share of the first-round lead in his first competitive round since East Lake. There, he lost 1.9 strokes putting, his third straight event in the red for strokes-gained/putting. If it works, it works (until it doesn't and the internet pounces).