Pettersson adjusts to conventional putter in shaky first round at Sony Open

Carl Pettersson at the Sony Open in Hawaii. ( Getty Images )HONOLULU – Carl Pettersson came to Hawaii wondering how his new conventional-length putter would work after his anchored stroke was banned as of Jan. 1.

Instead, as he finished play Thursday at Waialae Country Club with a 1-over 71 in the first round of the Sony Open, the putter clearly was the least of his problems.

By Getty Images Carl Pettersson's putter for the first round of 2016 Sony Open in Hawaii

“I was worried about my putting,” Pettersson said, "and that’s the only thing I did well.”

Pettersson was among a handful of touring pros who used long putters who were affected by Rule 14-1b, which prohibits the anchored stroke and…