HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Kevin Kisner didn’t kick up his golf shoes and relax last weekend after missing the cut in the Masters.
After spending Saturday with his family, he got right back to work on the day of rest by playing 27 holes at Palmetto Golf Club in his hometown of Aiken, South Carolina, and figured out he had to make a change.
Despite being one of the best putters on the PGA Tour – he’s 28th in strokes gained/putting and 15th in total putting this season – Kisner is contemplating going to the armlock method. Kisner drove to Hilton Head Island on Monday and quickly began working on his new putting stroke. He spent more than a good hour on the putting green using the armlock method Tuesday at Harbour Town Golf Links ahead of the start of the RBC Heritage.
“Right back to the grind to get over it,” Kisner said. “I’m pretty ticked off about my game. I feel like I’m playing well, not getting results, so I’m looking forward to playing the golf courses here in the next stretch that I really enjoy playing and hopefully start to see some more positive results.
RBC Heritage: Odds and picks | Field by the rankings
“I figured I’ve been putting pretty poorly, one of the best parts of my game, not starting online last week. I just wanted to see a different look, try it out, and I like it. I think it’s really good inside 10 feet. I’ve just got to get used to the speed. I’ll see how it goes tomorrow in the pro-am and see if I’ll try it on Thursday.”
Kisner also did a bit of shopping since firing rounds of 72-77 to miss the cut at Augusta National. The putter he used during the Masters did not make it to Harbour Town.
Kevin Kisner pulls a club on the 2nd fairway during the first round of the 2021 Masters. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
“I’ve got to start seeing some putts going in the hole,” Kisner said. “My biggest problem is I’ve normally been one of the best inside eight feet, and this year I’m not making it so I can’t keep the momentum of the round going when I miss a green, and then if I stuff an iron shot and miss the putt it’s really putting a drag on the whole game. If I can see this way starting online and hitting more solid putts more consistently, I think it can help overall, but it’s still just a trial as of now.”
If Kisner does put a new putter and new stroke to the test, it will be on a course he loves. He finished second here in 2015 and tied for seventh in 2018.
“After being in a position I thought I was playing well and not performing, I’m down here on full-on grind to try to compete at a tournament I feel like I can win,” he said. “(The course is) already pretty firm and the greens are quick. It’s going to be a great week. If we don’t get a lot of rain, I think they can progress the conditions to playing more difficult than we’ve seen in years past, and if we get a little bit of sea breeze, I think it’ll be a really stern test.”