HUMBLE, Texas – D.A. Points opened with an 8-under 64 at the Shell Houston Open using a stolen putter.
That’s right – he swiped it. Back in 1987. When he was 11 years old. Right out of his mother’s golf bag.
“When I turned pro, I was using it for a while, then I’d put it away and bring it back,” he explained. “It’s just a really good-looking putter and I brought it with me this week because I just had been putting so bad, I thought maybe I’ll pull this old putter out of the garage and maybe it will have some magic in it. Sure enough, today it did.”
Shell Houston Open: Articles, videos and photos
Highlights: Points’ opening round 64 in Houston
It’s an old Ping Anser model that Mary Jo Points had in her bag until her precocious son decided to take it for himself. He won two Illinois State Amateur titles with the putter and two more on the Web.com Tour, but hadn’t been using it this season until now.
Going back to it turned out to be a great idea.
Points made five putts of 10 feet or more, including a 54-footer on the 17th hole and a 35-footer on No. 3 in what was easily his best round of the year. In nine previous starts, he’s made the cut only twice, with a best finish of T-63 at the Humana Challenge.
“Maybe I’m an idiot for not having used this putter the whole time,” he said. “It worked well today.”
As for whether his mom will ask for the putter back anytime soon, he hoped she wouldn’t.
“I’ve had it for a long time,” Points explained. “I think she’s been praying so badly for me to make some putts, she’s probably happy for me to have it.”