Russell Henley’s Masterclass In Staying With The Routine
Compiled by Multiple-Award-Winning PGA Professional Brendon R. Elliott, PrimePutt’s Director of Instruction and Lead Writer
There are weeks when a tournament is won early, slowly and methodically.
Then there are weeks like Russell Henley’s at Colonial.
Henley did not just win the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge. He chased it down. He entered Sunday three shots back, looked like he was fighting simply to stay in the mix, then birdied the final three holes of regulation before beating Eric Cole with another birdie on the first playoff hole.
That is four pressure birdies in a row when the tournament was fully on the line.
That is exactly why this week’s PrimePutt Presents: Pressure Putts belongs to Russell Henley.
The Moment
Colonial had already asked plenty from Henley. It was hot, firm, windy and demanding. The final-round notes listed a high of 94 degrees with wind gusts up to 20 mph. Henley closed with a 67, finished at 12 under and defeated Cole with a birdie on No. 18 in sudden death.
The finish was the whole story.
Henley birdied 16. He birdied 17. Then he made another birdie at 18 to force the playoff. Once he got back to 18, he hit the shots he needed and made the putt that mattered most.
The numbers were impressive, but his explanation was even better. Henley said he was nervous over the playoff putt, but tried to stay with the same routine he uses on every putt and commit to his line.
That is the lesson.
Pressure does not ask you to become someone new. It asks you to trust what you have already built.
What Amateurs Can Learn
Most golfers make pressure putting harder because they change too much.
They read longer.
They stand over the ball longer.
They rehearse more.
They steer the stroke.
They think about what the putt means instead of what the putt needs.
Henley’s finish is a reminder that the routine is the safety net. When the heat rises, you do not need a brand-new putting stroke. You need a repeatable process that gives your brain something familiar to follow.
The PrimePutt Practice Plan
The Four-In-A-Row Finish Drill
Set up four putts on your PrimePutt mat:
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A 3-footer
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A 5-footer
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A 7-footer
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A final putt from your longest available distance
The rule is simple: you must go through your full routine on every putt.
Read it.
Aim it.
Set up.
Look once more.
Roll it.
Do not rush the short ones and do not overthink the long one. Your goal is not just to make four putts. Your goal is to make four committed strokes with the same process.
If you miss, start over.
That sounds tough because it is. But that is how pressure practice should feel.
The PrimePutt Takeaway
Henley won because he hit great golf shots, but he closed because he stayed present when the tournament got loud.
For everyday golfers, that is the bridge between practice and performance. Your stroke matters. Your aim matters. Your speed matters. But under pressure, your routine is what lets those pieces show up.
Build it at home. Repeat it often. Trust it when it matters.
YTD Putting Watch
PGA Tour SG: Putting Leaders
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Vince Whaley, +0.880
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Jacob Bridgeman, +0.837
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Jake Knapp, +0.744
LPGA Putts Per Round Leaders
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Hyo Joo Kim, 27.96
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Mi Hyang Lee, 28.00
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Gemma Dryburgh, 28.25
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Minami Katsu, 28.38
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Minjee Lee, 28.40
Pressure Putts drops every Monday with the week’s best putting stories, stats and drills from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour and DP World Tour. Got a putting question or drill request? Drop us a line.
