Ben Silverman's Hockey-Inspired Putter Fuels Bermuda Championship Run

Ben Silverman might have discovered the most Canadian solution imaginable to his putting problems. And it couldn't have come at a better time for his PGA Tour career.

The Ontario native has turned heads at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship with an unusual hockey-style putter grip, helping him reach 12-under-par 130 through two rounds at Port Royal Golf Course.

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Silverman followed Thursday's eight-under 63 with a four-under 67 on Friday, leaving him tied for third, just one stroke behind co-leaders Kensei Hirata and Chandler Blanchet.

For a player fighting to preserve his PGA Tour status, it's a welcome turnaround.

Silverman entered the tournament ranked 143rd in the FedExCup Fall standings after missing seven of his previous nine cuts. With full playing privileges for 2027 hanging in the balance, he needed something to change.

Enter Tony Finau and a putting experiment.

A few weeks ago at the Bank of Utah Championship, Silverman noticed Finau using a putter equipped with an oversized grip resembling the handle of a hockey stick.

Naturally, the Canadian had to try it.

"It's hockey, right up my alley, I'm a big hockey guy, love it," Silverman said.

After testing Finau's putter, Silverman contacted Caliber Golf and obtained his own hockey-inspired grip.

Unlike traditional putter grips, the design features flat surfaces on both sides and extends unusually far down the shaft. Silverman believes that construction helps him position his hands consistently and keep the putter face square.

"It fits perfectly in my palms," he explained.

The results have been encouraging.

Silverman recorded five birdies Friday, offsetting his lone bogey while remaining among the tournament leaders. His approach shots have also been outstanding, ranking fourth in Strokes Gained: Approach through 36 holes.

The combination of sharper iron play and renewed confidence on the greens has given Silverman a legitimate opportunity to contend for his first PGA Tour victory.

And the timing matters.

Players outside the FedExCup Fall's top 100 face uncertainty regarding their playing opportunities next season. Silverman likely needs a victory or several strong finishes to dramatically improve his position.

He'll enter Saturday one shot behind Hirata and Blanchet, who share the lead at 13 under.

Corey Conners, Seamus Power, Eric Cole and Danny Walker are alongside Silverman at 12 under, setting up a crowded weekend leaderboard.

For Silverman, though, the bigger story might be rediscovering confidence when his season needed it most.

Whether the hockey-inspired grip produces a breakthrough victory remains to be seen.

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But after months of frustration, he's finally giving himself something worth celebrating.

And if this experiment delivers his first PGA Tour title, Canadian golf fans might have an entirely new reason to appreciate their national pastime.