Those tuned in to the Northwest golf scene already knew about Kyle Stanley’s ability.
He displayed it time and time again as an amateur, winning tournaments with a tee-to-green game that few can boast.
In 2011, the rest of the country found about the Gig Harbor native and Bellarmine Prep graduate, who was part of one of the best rookie classes in PGA Tour history.
He made 22 cuts, most by a first-year player last season. And although he did not win, it took a near-miracle birdie by Steve Sticker on the 72nd hole of the John Deere Classic to prevent it.
“At any point, I did not feel like a rookie,” Stanley said. “I had played 10 to 12 times out there already. All that stuff, it wasn’t really something that was new.”
Not surprisingly, Stanley’s goal for this season is simple: get in contention more often to improve chances of a first PGA victory.
If anything would prevent that, it would be his constant short-game fiddling – particularly putting, where he rated 161st on the tour.
The season featured a merry-go-round change of putters: He started with a 35-inch flat stick, changed to a belly putter early in spring, then switched to a 36-inch putter around June, which he stuck with the rest of the season.
In the late summer, Stanley noticed a difference in his putting posture.
“With the 36-inch putter, I was standing too tall ... and I think that had to do with trying the belly putter,” Stanley said.
In the offseason, Stanley hired James Sieckmann, a short-game guru from Omaha, Neb., who has helped other PGA Tour professionals – including Ben Crane, Charley Hoffman, D.J. Trahan and Charlie Wi.
“He has helped me with my greens reading,” Stanley said. “He loves my stroke, which I was open to change. But putting is more about how you process information on the greens and committing to a line as opposed to what your stroke is like.”
If he can sharpen that aspect, does Stanley feel he is on the brink of his first PGA Tour win?
“It is always a process – you are always trying to get better. And my progression since I started playing competitively, it has always been up,” Stanley said.
“You can’t put a time line on when certain things will happen. I am always trying to get better. As long as I do that, I can be a top player.”
ABOUT KYLE STANLEY
Age: 24
Hometown/residence: Gig Harbor/Bluffton, S.C.
High school/college: Bellarmine Prep/Clemson
2011 season: 22 of 28 cuts made, $1.52 million (55th on the PGA Tour)
How he got to PGA Tour this season: Top 125 on 2011 PGA Tour money list
Caddie: Brett Waldman
Instructors: Mike Taylor (swing), James Sieckmann (short game)
Agent: Brad Buffoni, Wasserman Media Group
In the bag: Titleist 910D3 driver, Titleist D2 3-wood, Titleist 712 irons, Titleist Vokey wedges (60, 56, 52, 47 degrees), Scotty Cameron Newport GSS putter, 2009 Pro V1x golf balls
Endorsements: Titleist/FootJoy, Dunning Sportswear, Transamerica, Aegon
Five he wants to play: Waste Management Phoenix Open (Feb 2-5), Arnold Palmer Invitational (March 22-25), The Players Championship (May 10-13), The Memorial Tournament (May 31–June 3) and John Deere Classic (July 12-15)
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