Changing putters may end up helping Ryan Armor end a frustrating drought.
Better yet, it could lead to a second career PGA Tour win for the 47-year-old former Walsh Jesuit and Ohio State golfer.
Armor shot an 8-under 64 Thursday to quickly put himself in contention after one round of the Barbasol Championship in Kentucky. He and Ryan Moore are in second place, one shot behind leader Lucas Glover.
Armor shot nine birdies, including two stretches of four in a row. A big difference came on the greens.
“I finally saw putts go in,” Armor said. “I’ve putted so poor for four, five months, made a putter change and just went with it. Rolled it good yesterday during the pro-am, and I was like, ‘Alright, we’re putting it in play.’ “
Armor said he switched to a longer version of a Scotty Cameron-model putter he had been using.
“I didn’t hit the ball that well on the front nine, and the putter bailed me out,” Armor said. “Then the back nine, I hit some good shots.
“As a pro golfer, you have to see something go in just to kind of ease your mind a little bit. I’ve kind of beaten my head against the wall for about four months with the putter.”
Armor has missed four straight cuts, but has never missed a cut at the Barbasol Championship. His only win in 255 previous PGA Tour events came at the Sanderson Farms Championship during the 2017-18 season.
It was also a successful first round for amateur Maxwell Moldovan, who earned a spot in the field during a qualifier Monday. The Green graduate and current Ohio State senior shot 4-under 68 and is tied for 24th.
Former Northwest and Malone standout Justin Lower fired an even-par 72 and is tied for 99th. Lower returned to the tour after a bout with COVID forced him to miss last week’s John Deere Classic.
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ryan Armour, Maxwell Moldovan, Justin Lower open Barbasol Championship