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Chris Kirk’s caddie helped design his new putter, and it’s paying off at FedEx St. Jude

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A caddie’s role goes far beyond “bag carrier.” Enter Michael Cromie, who caddies for early FedEx St. Jude Championship leader Chris Kirk. At the first stop of the FedExCup Playoffs, his work involved surprising his boss with a new putter and picking the perfect lines on the putting surfaces.

Kirk carded an opening-round 64 in the Memphis heat Thursday, highlighted by a hole-in-one at the par-3 14th hole, to move in front at TPC Southwind. But what likely won’t be found in the highlights package is the help on and around the greens from his trusty caddie.

Michael (Cromie) is doing a really good job with AimPoint, which is kind of new for us,” Kirk said after his first round. “People watching on TV at home at The Open were kind of laughing because they see me – Michael is reading the putt, I don’t like for him to hold the flag while he’s doing it because I feel like it might mess up his balance a little bit, so I’m off to the side holding the flag, looking in the crowd or whatever, just waiting for him to point at where he wants me to line the line up.

“It’s gone really well. It mentally has been very freeing for me because I can just focus on hitting a good putt down that line and watching that line spiral. I’ve really enjoyed the change, and today was certainly a good day for it.”

A look at Chris Kirk's custom Odyssey No. 7 putter he debuted at the 2024 FedEx St. Jude. (GolfWRX)

It certainly worked for the duo in the first round at TPC Southwind, as Kirk ranked sixth in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting, gaining over two shots on the field on the greens. The Georgia Bulldog made more than 100 feet worth of putts, highlighted by long birdies on the third, sixth and 12th holes from outside 17 feet.

In addition to reading the greens and working AimPoint, Cromie surprised the six-time PGA TOUR winner with a new flatstick for the first leg of the FedExCup Playoffs that he had designed with the help of Cody Hale, the TOUR’s Odyssey rep.

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