Blades Brown impresses in professional debut at the American Express

In the world of golf, certain names seem destined to appear on leaderboards, and Blades Brown is undoubtedly one of them. At just 17 years old, Brown is making his professional debut this week at The American Express at PGA West, a tournament known for its challenging three-course rotation and its star-studded fields.

Brown began his campaign at La Quinta Country Club on Thursday, one of three courses used during the first three rounds before Saturday evening’s 54-hole cut determines who will play the final round at the Pete Dye Stadium Course. His opening round was a mixed bag—a steady even-par 72 that might have been respectable on another day, but with scores going as low as 10 under, it left him with an uphill battle.

On Friday, playing the Nicklaus Tournament Course, Brown showed why his name may soon be etched in golf’s history books. Starting on the 10th tee, the teenager made an early bogey on the par-5 11th, a hiccup that could have rattled even seasoned pros. Instead, Brown responded with a dazzling stretch of golf that showcased his immense potential.

From Nos. 12 through 2, Brown caught fire, carding eight birdies, including an electrifying run of six straight from the 12th to the 17th. His fearless play and precise iron shots reminded onlookers of a seasoned veteran rather than a young newcomer.

Over the final seven holes, he added two more birdies and a bogey to post an 8-under 64 for the day. The round vaulted him to 8 under for the tournament, eight shots behind co-leaders Charley Hoffman and Rico Hoey.

“I like to make golf simple,” Brown said after his round. “Yesterday, I didn’t make golf simple. But today, I just focused on hitting as many fairways and greens as I could. Luckily, that was the case.”

Simple or not, Brown’s game speaks volumes. While Data Golf projects the 54-hole cut to fall at 9 under, Brown has given himself a fighting chance to make it to Sunday’s final round—a remarkable achievement for a teenager making his first professional start.

Photo – The Tennessean