Rico Hoey posts a runner-up after a fierce chase—then reveals the broomstick putter switch that flipped his season: 3 top-10s in 4 weeks, two course records in the first fortnight of testing, and a leap from outside the top-100 to the Signature Events conversation (51-60 watch!). He details the why, the build, and how confidence on the greens changes everything.
Keywords: Rico Hoey interview, runner up Bank of Utah 2025, broomstick putter, long putter switch, Signature Events 51-60, top-10 streak, putting coach Marcus Potter
Hashtags: #PGATOUR #RicoHoey #BroomstickPutter #GolfInterview
All right, Rico, second career runnerup finish on tour. I know you were chasing a lot of the day there and at one point it got to within three strokes. How did you kind of see the day unfold from your perspective? Um, you know, Michael played great from the from the start. So, for me, I was just, you know, trying to keep up with him and, uh, yeah, he kept pushing me to, you know, hit great shots and, you know, make good putts and, uh, that’s all I could do. So, you know, it was it was a fun week for me. How satisfied are you with with with your play, especially as of late? Yeah, I mean, uh, it’s been awesome. The start of the fall, you know, I was outside the top 100 and, you know, I think now it project me up pretty high. So, uh, kind of nice to know hopefully I have a secured, you know, card for next year and going to Sony next year. That’ll be fun. But, uh, no, I switched to the long putter after Windham and, uh, to have three top 10s out of the four weeks, it’s just it’s incredible for me. So, I’m I’m really happy where I’m headed. And so, how much does does the focus change? I think you’re I think you’re projected 61st. And so now the the opportunity to maybe get inside in between 51 and 60 which would get you into Pebble and Genesis for the next year. Does it does do the goals kind of shift now a little bit since you haven’t been playing so well? You know, I think I’m just going to keep playing well or keep playing the best I can and you know, let the cards unfold for itself. You know, it’s something I I just want to keep getting better. You know, I I want to keep giving myself chances to win like this week. And so if it happens and I play well and get into the signature events, great. If not, then you know what? I’m just going to keep my head down and keep working hard. I’d love it if you could share a little more about um what went into this putter switch and how did you um did it take a bit of trial and error? How did you land on the broomstick? And then obviously you’re getting did you even expect such quick returns? Uh, I did not expect this quick of a turn, especially finishing second now. But, uh, no, it’s been kind of a rough season for me with putting and, you know, I’ve always just been a great ball striker and I feel like I drive the ball great, but just putting wise has always been too streaky and this year just I just didn’t make enough putts and started working with my putting coach Marcus Potter and uh, my caddy Brian Martin after Windham I think I just puted horribly and they sent you know a bunch of broomsticks. asked like Titalist and all these other companies to send broomsticks and I show up to the house and there it is. So I’m like I didn’t think it was that bad but uh so I tried it out during that month off and uh I ended up breaking two course records with it within the first two weeks and I’m like all right I think this is it. So it’s been great. I’ve been it’s been good to me so I’m just going to keep working hard with it. There’s some things I need to keep working on but uh yeah it’s been great. Wow. Thank you. Yeah, no problem. Good. All right. Thanks guys. Chase Rabbit.
