Golfers love to do the walk-in, moving toward the hole when a putt appears to be falling into the cup.
Kevin Na was so good Friday, he literally did a walk-off.
Na was making everything in sight, and when a 30-footer on No. 15 started tracking toward the hole, he lifted his putter in the air and walked off the green as the ball dropped in.
When the first-round scramble format of the QBE Shootout was over, Na and playing partner Sean O’Hair had walked off with a one-shot lead following a 16-under 56 over Ryan Palmer and Harold Varner III. Saturday’s format is modified alternate shot.
“I had a couple walk-offs today,” said Na, who got in the field when Sungjae Im withdrew three weeks ago. “One of them was on 15 and then on 17, you know, halfway there it looked like it was going in, I started walking sideways or backwards.
“It was a good feeling. The greens were rolling pure out there, the golf course is in great condition. If you hit it online, it’s going to go in.”
Lanto Griffin and Mackenzie Hughes, who are tied for third along with Matt Kuchar and Harris English at 14 under, were simply in awe watching Na.
“I wanted to say ‘Good putt’ on 17 before he even hit it,” Griffin said. “You had that feeling that anything he hits, it’s just going to go in the hole.”
“His putt on 17 was kind of the one where I was like, ‘Man, if this goes in, it’s beyond incredible,'” Hughes said. “There was one time on the back nine where it was like a
15-footer and my caddie and I were like, ‘Do you want odds on this one?’ I’m actually like, ‘Nah, I don’t want to bet against him,’ and he made it.”
O’Hair was making the putts early, when they were on pace to shoot 18 under for 18 holes. But they parred No. 13, and then nearly bogeyed No. 16 before Na made it.
“It felt pretty easy today just watching him putt and make everything he looked at, just kind of kept the momentum going,” O’Hair said. “There was a couple putts that were crucial I think to do that. We had a birdie putt on No. 14 that he made, that was a tricky little putt. Then he made a nice par putt on No. 16 and kept the momentum going, and that putt he hit on No. 17 was just unbelievable, and he hit a good putt on 18 that probably should have gone in.
“I felt like just if he was in play, hit it as hard as I could and try and hit it as close as I can, but it’s a nice feeling when you feel like your ball’s on the green, you have a good chance of making birdie because he’s putting so well.”
Palmer and Varner had the first-round lead with a 55 last year, and ended up tying for third. Varner joked they had a different strategy.
“We were thinking about it, we just didn’t really want to be front-runners,” Varner said. “We didn’t do well with that, so we just want to cruise right there just behind.”
Varner even had some fun with his playing partner, who is 44 and 14 years older than he is.
“I’ve got a great partner,” Varner said. “He’s really old but he carries me all the time, so I’m super thankful for that. And I’m so excited Christmas is right around the corner.”
O’Hair has plenty of experience in the Shootout. This is his 10th straight, and he won it with Kenny Perry in 2012 and Steve Stricker in 2017. He’s played with major champions like Jason Dufner and Mike Weir, and LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson last year.
“When I was told I was playing with Kevin, I loved the pairing,” O’Hair said. “I know he’s great with his short game and his putter and keeps it in play. I think it just kind of is a perfect partner to kind of free me up and let me be as aggressive as I possibly can.
“I’m happy to be a test dummy on the greens, especially when he’s making everything he looks at. I love the pairing. We get along great, the vibe was fantastic out there, so it was a lot of fun.”
Greg Hardwig is a sports reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @NDN_Ghardwig, email him at ghardwig@naplesnews.com.
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