Chalmers may be the best putter you've never heard of

text size

King/Getty Images

Greg Chalmers leads the TOUR in its new Strokes Gained-Putting statistic.

Greg Chalmers was aware that he ranked No. 1 in strokes gained-putting, the latest statistical innovation created to pinpoint the best putter on the PGA TOUR. He also pleaded guilty that he had to look up the meaning of the stat, and probably couldn't explain it if you held a downhill double-breaker to his head.

"That's pretty cool. I haven't led the TOUR in too many stats," Chalmers said. "It would be nice to lead the money list."

The strokes gained-putting category was created to uncover the best true putters on TOUR. It is a superior statistic to total putts used, since that number can be skewed by a player who barely misses the green on an approach shot and chips it close to save par or make a birdie. Strokes gained-putting takes into account putting proficiency from various distances and computes the difference between a player's performance on every green -- the number of strokes it takes for them to hole out -- against the performance of other players for each round. It shows how many strokes are gained or lost due to putting for a round, a tournament and over the course of a season.

Chalmers, a gregarious Australian, leads the strokes gained-putting category at .922, meaning he's nearly a full shot better on the greens. Among other statistics, Chalmers leads in total putting and three-putt avoidance; he's three-putted only 13 times in 53 rounds.

His putting prowess has allowed Chalmers to remain competitive on the PGA TOUR. He's currently 85th in FedExCup standings. His best finishes this season have been in Houston and New Orleans, when he tied for eighth in each event.

RELATED

Round 1 Tee Times
Power Rankings
Fantasy Insider
Expert Picks
Sleeper Picks
TOUR Report
Play Matchups
Stats: Total Putting
Strokes Gained -- Putting
3-Putt Avoidance

"I've been in the top 10-15 in almost every putting stat since I've been out here," Chalmers said. "It's been the strength of my game since I was a little kid."

He had plenty of time to work on his stroke back in those days, since his home golf course didn't have a driving range. Without a chance to work on full golf shots, Chalmers, 37, focused on his putting stroke.

"We only had a practice green," he said. "You could only putt and chip. That's all we had the space to do."

Chalmers didn't waste the opportunity, either. He worked hard to grasp the fundamentals and mechanics of putting and was encouraged by the positive feedback he received.

"I got the reputation as a good putter and people kept telling me I was a good putter," he said. "You keep hearing that from people you respect and you start to believe it."

There are many possible clues to Chalmers' consistent excellence on the greens. Although he's naturally right-handed, he plays golf as a lefty and his dominant right eye makes it easier for him to see the line.

He's stuck with the same advisors, too. He worked with Dale Lynch for eight years and learned to keep his putter on plane. Lately, he's had input from Colin Swatton, best known as Jason Day's caddie and instructor.

"You definitely don't get to this point without getting input from others," he said.

It also helps to fall in love with your flatstick. Chalmers has been using the same putter for nine years, a custom-made Bobby Grace mallet head unit. He changed the worn-out grip a couple weeks ago and is still trying to get it broken in to his comfort level.

"This putter has been a big part of my life," he said. The putter has been occasionally banished, but never punished. And it always finds itself back in the bag, sooner rather than later. "Change doesn't come easily to me," he said. "It's got great balance, I love the way it looks and I love the way the ball comes off the face.

It all adds up to make Chalmers a confident guy when he gets on the greens. He's probably not the guy you want to putt against for a post-round beverage. When he stands over a putt of any length, he's pretty sure it's going in.

"I believe I'm going to make everything," he said. "Some days I have crazy days where everything goes in. I just feel like I can make it. That's just how I've putted my whole life."

And now the statistics back him up.

Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.