LPGA Tour veteran Brittany Lincicome posted her lowest round in years at the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Friday thanks in large part to the addition of a new putter.
“Seemed like one of those really easy days where I couldn’t do anything wrong,” Lincicome said after firing bogey-free opening round of six-under 65. “I switched putters and today was my first day, tournament day. Every like 50-footer felt like a two-footer. Every putt was going in. Even like 20-footers to save par were going in.
“It was one of those really easy days, so we’ll see how tomorrow goes,” she continued. “Hopefully with the new putter and the good vibes of a golf course that I played well at before, hopefully we can keep it going.”
The magic putter Lincicome referenced is an Odyssey Jailbird, which features vertical stripes on the clubhead and promises more consistent ball speeds, even from off-center hits, leaving putts closer to the hole.
“Happy that I switched,” she said. “Just it’s maybe one of those things where you just needed a change, and that was what I need to kind of get over the hump of not playing well. I feel like I’ve been so close the last couple weeks. Right on the bubble, missing the cut by one most weeks. So it was nice to get out there and get a round under par. Hopefully we keep it going and see what we can do the next two days.”
Lincicome’s 65 at Seaview’s Bay Course in Galloway, N.J., was her lowest tournament round since the 2021 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, where she posted two rounds of 64 (six under on a par-70) en route to a 10th-place finish.
The 38-year-old mom of two is currently in the midst of her 20th season as a pro. She has eight career victories on her resume, including two major championships. But in recent years, getting herself in contention has proven more difficult. Lincicome has missed the cut five times in seven tournaments this year, with a T30 at the Chevron Championship as her best finish. But days like Friday — and riding the wave of a hot putter — give her renewed energy to keep pushing.
“I am obviously getting closer to retirement, and I feel like I still have it,” she said. “Still feel like I’m that 19-year-old that came out on tour 20 years ago now. I can’t believe I’m saying that. So cool to be out here and playing a game that I love and having a good day. This is wonderful.”
