CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ryo Hisatsune knew what was coming. It was Friday evening, and I had just walked the last six holes of the second round with his group, on the anonymous side of the draw, alongside JT Poston and a club pro from California.
Hisatsune had just finished an interview session with the Japanese press when I prompted him in English. Can I ask just one question?
“Yes,” he said with a nod. And before I could even get it out, he interrupted, “About the water bottle?”
Yes, the water bottle. The one presented to him by his caddie before every single putt and short-game shot. Follow his round closely and you’ll notice he refuses to hit a putt — anything outside of a foot long — without first taking a swig from a light blue bottle.
It all started a few years ago, during Hisatsune’s first year as a professional. He found himself feeling nervous over some putts, unable to calm himself down in the moment. And what do golfers often do when they get nervous? They rush through their process. Hence why sports psychologists and swing coaches emphasize routine, routine, routine.
“I felt a little nervous with some putting and short game,” Hisatsune explained. “So I asked my caddie, Can I have a drink of water? And now it’s my routine and I’m more relaxed.”
The order of operation is as follows:
When Hisatsune reaches the green, he reads the putt from all angles while his caddie stands about five paces behind his ball. When Hisatsune creeps in to stand directly behind the ball, his caddie steps forward with the water bottle, sipping straw ready. With his heels touching, staring down the line of the putt, Hisatsune takes a swig, hands the bottle back to his caddie and then moves in to make the stroke. If he misses and has to remark his ball and line up another putt, his caddie will bring the water back in. He will often request water over short-game shots, and occasionally on more nerve-inducing full shots. On Friday evening, the last sip came as he stood behind a two-footer for bogey.
Is it different? Definitely. Does it help him stay hydrated in muggy, sweaty Charlotte? Absolutely. Hisatsune also fills up different water bottles with Gatorade electrolyte packets throughout the round. When asked how often he’s refilling his blue water bottle, he said, “No idea, but maybe four or five refills [during a round]?”
It would be a better question for his looper, William Spencer. He’s new to the gig, playing this extra role of water boy for only the last few months. But Hisatsune says he’s doing great.
“He has good timing,” Hisatsune said with a smile. He’s had a few different loopers the last few years and has to teach each of them the proper sequence. “Some caddies have [not], some forgot. But he’s doing very well.”
As a duo, it’s all going very well at Quail Hollow. He’s top five in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting and made the turn Saturday afternoon at six under, just one shot back of the lead.
