Combining a couple of sporting loves just might pay off for Ben Silverman.
The Canadian golfer noticed American Tony Finau using a putter with a hockey-style shaft at a PGA Tour event earlier this month in Utah.
The putter, approved in 2021, is designed by Wisconsin's Caliber Golf.
Silverman, from Thornhill, Ont., got his hands on one of the Caliber putters and carded an opening round of 8-under 63 on Thursday at the Bermuda Championship. That was good for a tie for second, one shot off the lead.
"I hadn't heard about Caliber Golf until I saw Tony in Utah. He was finishing up on the putting green, his caddie was about to put the putter away. I was like, let me see that, one second. What is that? It's hockey, right up my alley, I'm a big hockey guy, love it," Silverman, 38, told reporters after his round Thursday.
"Contacted Tim (Wright, the founder) at Caliber Golf, he had it turned around in like six days for me and the feeling was awesome. It's fun for me playing with a hockey stick as my grip for the putter and it was rolling great today."
The longer grip appeals to Silverman.
"So the hockey stick blade is flat on both sides. I like to have the putter grip in the palms, lifelines in my hands anyways so it fits perfectly in my palms," he said.
"I do a double interlock left-hand low grip, but you can literally hold it anywhere as long as your palms are on it and you're going to be square to the face, so that's what I like about it."
Silverman and Corey Conners from Listowel, Ont. are two of four golfers one shot behind leader Chandler Blanchet.
Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton also is in the mix at 7 under, two shots off the pace.
Amateur golfer Austin Lemieux, son of Mario Lemieux, shot 1-over 72 in his PGA Tour debut after Monday's qualifying.
Like many of the golfers in the field, Silverman is trying to get into the top 100 of the FedEx Cup standings to become eligible for the 2027 PGA Tour season.
Silverman, looking for his first career PGA Tour win, currently sits 143rd. This is the fourth of eight fall events that finalizes eligibility for the 2027 season.
"I don't look at it as a tough spot to be in, my game has actually been getting better," Silverman said. "I've just had a lot of missed cuts where I missed by one and I was right there and the game felt good."
