PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Scottie Scheffler has always been a proficient ball-striker, but his putting has not always been so cooperative.
Although Scheffler has become a Top 10 player in the world, he’s battled an inconsistent flatstick his first two seasons on the PGA Tour. In both 2020 and 2021, the 25-year-old ranked outside the top 100 in SG: Putting, playing a role in his inability to find the winner’s circle.
However, this season has been a different story. Heading into the Genesis Invitational, Scheffler ranks 28th on Tour in SG: Putting, and he rode a hot flatstick to his first victory at last week’s WM Phoenix Open.
What’s been the secret to the turnaround? It’s impossible to pinpoint any one factor, but a healthy amount of practice is a good place to start. And a little bit of pocket change.
While prepping for the Genesis Invitational on Tuesday afternoon, Scheffler went through a variety of drills on the putting green in the shadow of Riviera Country Club’s clubhouse to get a feel for the tricky poa annua greens. But it was the subtle placement of a quarter that stuck out to my wandering eyes.
Throughout the entirety of his practice session, Scheffler balanced a quarter on the back on his putter blade. And stroke after stroke, he attempted to keep it from falling off.
“It helps me with tempo in transition,” Scheffler said.
Any time he gets too quick with the putter head, the quarter falls to the turf, showing he was not making a smooth, even stroke.
The drill seems to be working, and if he can keep up his strong play on the greens, another victory could be on the horizon.