KUCHAR’S FAITH IN HIS BETTINARDI PUTTER PAYS OFF
-Hard work on Armlock technique delivers record tournament win -
Matt Kuchar kept faith with his Bettinardi Armlock putter to claim his first PGA Tour title in four years by winning the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.
Using his custom Tour Dept. DASS KM-1 (Kuchar Model 1) Armlock model from the specialist milled putter manufacturer based in Tinley Park, Illinois, Kuchar rattled in a clutch putt from three-feet on the 18th for his eighth PGA title following a final round 69 (-2) and a one-shot victory.
The 40-year-old shot a tournament record (-22) - including 26-birdies - for his best 72-hole score on Tour and 14th career victory. He also succeeded with local caddie David Ortiz on the bag, as regular man John Wood away at a reunion. With the win, Kuchar jumps eleven spots in the Official World Golf Rankings, to 29th.
“My putter was hot all week and having made so many birdies, I knew it wouldn’t let me down at the end,” said Kuchar, whose last victory came at the 2014 RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, South Carolina. “It feels so good to be back in the winner’s circle. I’ve worked so hard on my putting and I’ve always trusted the technique Bob and I created. I just needed things to fall into place,” he added.
Kuchar designed his 40.5” DASS KM-1 putter with F.I.T Face Technology together with master craftsman Bob Bettinardi. It features a long grip that he locks parallel to his left forearm for a more stable putting stroke – known as the Armlock. The pair has worked together since 2011 and Bettinardi is the only equipment manufacturer to offer an Armlock model to golfers.
“It was Matt’s idea to try the Armlock method,” said Bob Bettinardi. “He wanted something to take the small muscles out of his putting stroke and after testing, he settled on the Model 1, because he wanted a blade-style putter with a wider body to give him a better view of the sightline when pressing forward,” he added.
The win is Bettinardi’s ninth on Tour this season including the brand’s third Major Championship title, with Francesco Molinari’s victory at The Open at Carnoustie in July. China’s newest golfing superstar Haotong Li has also enjoyed a record season using his custom Studio Stock 3 Tour Edition putter to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January, then switching to his custom Tour Dept. Soft Carbon BBZero, and setting a record with 5 top-10 finishes in his last six starts and jumping fifteen spots to 41st in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Bettinardi Golf is one of the fastest-growing equipment brands in golf. It has become increasingly popular for its hand-crafted putters made in the USA from a single piece of high-quality steel using hi-tech CNC milling technology.
DASS KM-1 (Kuchar Model 1) facts:
- Face Balanced Putter (Heel-Toe Weighted with no toe-hang) with F.I.T. Face Technology
- 400 grams with 2.5 offset (forcing the club forward)
- 70 Degrees of loft