New putting grip helps Biddle take big steps

Golfers often grapple with their putting. With his short game in shambles, Blake Biddle switched to using his left hand on the bottom.

''The first half of the summer I was struggling,'' Biddle said. ''I was desperate. One day I was with some friends and I was messing around. I changed the grip and started putting halfway decent.''

Since then, the Wheaton Academy junior has raised his game to another level. He had 24 putts in his first competitive round, including nine on the front nine.

''When you putt well it gives you a lot of confidence,'' Biddle said.

At the Illinois Open, he became a national name, placing fifth by shooting 67-72-73 at Hawthorn Woods …