Las Vegas, Nevada (January 21, 2012)–Las Vegas PGA Tour star Ryan Moore won everything in amateur golf during a magical 2004 season while playing at UNLV. While his pro career to this point hasn't been quite as magical, he still has had plenty of success including a PGA Tour victory. And the 2012 season is off to a decent start for Moore, especially after a scorchinig putter helped him fire a second-round 61 at the Humana Challenge with new caddie Tony Navarro on the bag. –By Brian Hurlburt
Switching putters prior to the round was a key factor in the record round according to Moore. "The putter was definitely working," Moore told the media after his round. "I made a lot of putts in that 10 to 15 foot range. They weren't all those kind of gimmie three, five footers or anything like that. I had a couple of those, but for the most part they were anywhere from 10 to 20 feet that I was making all day. I was a little frustrated with how I putted yesterday, and I had another putter in my locker so I went and switched yesterday afternoon. And apparently it was right decision, because I don't know if I ever putted that well in my entire life."
Moore is just one of at least a couple dozen LPGA Tour and PGA Tour players that call the Las Vegas Golf Region home. Moore recently moved back to Las Vegas after a brief stint in Arizona. He also has a home in his native state of Washington. Want to play golf in Las Vegas like the pros do? Click now to view our official guide to Las Vegas golf courses. Featured course: TPC Las Vegas, the home of pro golf in Las Vegas.
Navarro is one of the most experienced caddies on the PGA Tour, and has worked with some of the game's best including former UNLV golfer Adam Scott and Greg Norman. Now Moore, who was recently spotted at a UNLV basketball game, is happy to have him on his bag and hopes he will help him create more magic. "We're having a great week," Moore said. "He's a great guy with a ton of experience, obviously, and I thought that could really help me take that next jump in my career and start winning a little bit more, so I'm excited to have him on the bag and excited for this year."
Moore's round of 61 included an eagle and six birdies in an 8-hole stretch, and a run of 11 birdies in 12 holes. The round also tied the course record over the 18 holes of the private Nicklaus course at PGA West. Moore jumped from 103rd to 14th with the low round of the day. And all of this after starting the round two over par through three holes.
"The last thing I remember was being 2‑over through three, and then I just walked off the 18th hole and I don't really remember anything after that point or in between those two points," said Moore. "Today, obviously, didn't start out well or started out doing what I would like to be doing after shooting even yesterday, so really that just kind of maybe in some ways just kind of freed me up. You know you have to go make some birdies and sometimes you try forcing it a little bit. And I just kind of let go and just started playing some golf." Quotes courtesy ASAPSports.com.