Another Victory for Kuchar and Bettinardi Golf at The Sony Open

Another Victory for Kuchar and Bettinardi Golf at The Sony Open

- Clutch Putting Down the Stretch Lifts Kuchar to Second Win of '19 PGA Season – 

Tinley Park, IL: Using his custom Tour Dept. KM-1 (Kuchar Model 1) Armlock model from the specialist milled putter manufacturer based in Tinley Park, Illinois, Matt Kuchar poured in clutch putt after clutch putt on the back 9 of Waialae Country for a final round 66, and lifting him to win the 2019 Sony Open. The Sony Open was Kuchar’s second win in three starts to open the 2018-2019 PGA Tour season, 9th overall PGA Tour victory, and his 100th top 10 finish of his career. 

“Matt played terrific golf all week, and really came through in the clutch on the back 9 of Wai’alae Country Club, to secure his 2nd PGA win in only three starts”, said Sam Bettinardi, Vice President of Bettinardi Golf. “Matt’s putting only got better with added pressure, as he continues to prove why he is one of the best American players in the game of golf.”

The 40-year-old carded 24-birdies for the tournament and had a 7.038 strokes gained putting, which was fourth best in the field this week. With the win, Kuchar jumped to 22nd in the Official World Golf Rankings and second in the Fedex Cup standings. Matt is the first two-time winner of the season. 

“My putter remained hot all week and having made so many birdies, I knew it wouldn’t let me down at the end,” said Kuchar, who before we won in Mexico, saw his last victory come at the 2014 RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, South Carolina. “To win again, two out of three starts is crazy to comprehend,” said Kuchar. 

Kuchar designed his 40.5” Soft Carbon Steel KM-1 putter with F.I.T. Face Technology together with master craftsman Bob Bettinardi. It features a 19” long custom Lamkin Armlock grip that he locks parallel to his left forearm for a more stable putting stroke – known as the Armlock. The pair have worked together since 2011 and Bettinardi is the only equipment manufacturer to offer an Armlock model to all 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 1st of 2019, following an impressive 2018 season that included a company record 10 professional victories, including their third Major Championship title at The Open at Carnoustie in July 2018. Bettinardi’s growing Tour Staff includes Matt Kuchar, Eddie Pepperell, Haotong Li, Ben Silverman, Jim Herman, and Fred Couples. Bettinardi Golf is one of the fastest-growing equipment brands in golf, and has become increasingly popular for its hand-crafted putters made in the USA from a single piece of high-quality steel.

KM-1 (Kuchar Model) facts:

Face Balanced Putter (Heel-Toe Weighted with no toe-hang)

- Soft Carbon Steel 
- F.I.T. Face Technology
- 400 grams
- 71 Degrees of Lie 
- 2.5 Degrees of loft 

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