Blades Brown: Teenage Sensation Makes PGA Tour History!
Blades Brown has made history, roaring into the record books as the youngest PGA Tour winner since 1931! The teenager stormed to a playoff victory at the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico after conjuring an incredible 9-under-par, 63, on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Tennessean – a player who skipped college to turn professional right after high school – started the final day a hefty seven shots back, tied for ninth place. But then he delivered the lowest round of the day, with an incredible 10 birdies in Cabo San Lucas. Brown kept his nerve and sank a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to secure the sole clubhouse lead at 23-under-par. Ben James, the overnight leader, was still on the course at that point, two shots behind.
After a series of pars, James needed an eagle on the par-5 18th hole. He fired a superb approach shot with an iron to 20 feet from the flag and sank the putt stone cold. Playoff! A replay of the 18th hole, in sudden death.
Both players found the middle of the green in two shots. James, who putted first from 27 feet, missed by mere inches. Brown, on the other hand, left his slightly easier putt a little short. Pure suspense!
The two had to play the hole again. This time, both approaches landed short and right of the green. But after James played a fine chip, he pushed his six-foot putt just right. The stage was set: Brown sank his putt and claimed the victory!
“Playoff holes are simply… incredible. They test you in so many ways,” said Brown, who had to wait what felt like an eternity between the end of his round and the playoff. “I was hitting balls and saw that he made it, and I thought, ‘Alright, playoff, let’s go.’ I’ve known Ben since we were amateurs, and he’s such an unbelievable player. He’s insane with the putter. This time I got him, but I’m sure we’ll be battling it out for years to come.” Now that’s a statement!
At 19 years and five months, Brown is the fourth-youngest PGA Tour winner in history. This surpasses Jordan Spieth’s victory at the 2013 John Deere Classic, where he was the youngest in modern times at 19 years and 11 months.
Michael Kim finished the tournament in third place, one shot back at 22-under-par. He had sank his final birdie putt just before his Sunday playing partner Brown caught up and reclaimed the lead. Japan’s Kensei Hirata finished fourth at 21-under, with David Ford in fifth, another shot behind.
After his unusual decision to skip college, Brown missed the cut at the PGA Tour American Express in La Quinta last year during his pro debut at age 17. Earlier this year, he was ranked 485th in the world rankings.
