HONOLULU — This should help temper the debate over a new rule this year that allows players to putt with the flagstick in the hole.
Last week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, Bryson DeChambeau, whose plan is to putt with the flagstick in as often as possible, led the field in strokes gained: putting through three rounds, prompting some to question if the new rule would make putting easier.
On Thursday at the Sony Open, Andrew Putnam at least temporarily changed the narrative thanks to a putting performance that included 174 feet of putts made and a strokes gained: putting advantage of 6.