Blades Brown’s strong performance at The American Express has been backed by both elite ball-striking and a disciplined approach to his practice—one that includes a putting drill famously used by Tiger Woods.
In a video shared by the PGA TOUR, Brown, 18, explained that a putting gate drill is a regular part of his tournament preparation. The drill, which is done by placing two tees just outside the heel and toe of the putter head, is designed to promote a square face through impact and reinforce a consistent strike on the center of the face.
To better feel the putter rotate through impact, the drill is done one-handed with just the right hand. Woods has long used the drill throughout his career, and it remains a popular routine among players focused on face control and stroke stability. Ben Griffin used this same drill during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, adding his own twist by putting one-handed with his left hand as well.
“I know this is the smallest stroke that we make in golf, but you definitely want to hit it in the center. I’ve added this to my warmup and I do this every time before I play. Whenever I’m practicing at home I will make about 25-30 of these, just with my right hand. In order to complete this drill back at home, I have to have five perfect strokes. So I cannot hit the tees one time. Until I do that, I cannot complete this drill.”
-Blades Brown
How much room should you place between the tees and the heel and toe of the putter?
Practically none.
Blades demonstrates that the tees are basically resting against the putter so there is zero wiggle room. While this will result in you hitting the tees some of the time, it will calibrate you to what a perfect strike on the center of the putter face feels like because you have to have a perfect stroke in order to return the putter back to the ball at impact and not hit either tee.
Brown, who turned pro in 2024, has been one of the most consistent players statistically in the field this week at PGA West. He ranks tied for first in Greens in Regulation at 88.89 percent, giving himself a steady stream of birdie opportunities across the American Express’ three-course rotation. On the greens, he has capitalized efficiently, sitting eighth in Strokes Gained Putting through Round 3.
His third round performance on the greens stood out in particular, as Brown made an astounding 128 feet of putts, including a 25 footer on the 17th hole and 43 footer on the 18th hole to finish 4-under 68.
In just his tenth PGA TOUR start, Brown enters the final round of The American Express tied for second place alongside world number one, Scottie Scheffler, as the young phenom seeks his first career win on the PGA TOUR.
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