Get ready for a thrilling tale of golf prowess and a young player's remarkable journey! Blades Brown, an 18-year-old phenom, has just etched his name into PGA Tour history. But here's where it gets controversial... he didn't quite achieve the legendary 59, but his 60 is still a record-breaking feat!
On Friday at the American Express, Brown had the chance to make history. A missed putt on the ninth hole left him at 12-under for Round 2, setting a new Nicklaus Tournament Course record. It was a close call, as one stroke could have made him the youngest player to shoot a 59. Despite the near-miss, Brown remains optimistic.
"The putt didn't drop, but I'm thrilled with my performance," he shared with Golf Channel. When asked about the pressure during the final holes, he admitted, "Of course, I felt it! But I'm stoked to have achieved this on the PGA Tour."
Brown's performance has him tied atop the leaderboard with the world's top-ranked player, Scottie Scheffler, at 17-under through two rounds. But his breakout round is just one part of an incredible week.
You see, Brown's journey began with a 68 on Sunday at the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic. He then made the cut with a 74 on Monday, which led to two more days of competition in the Caribbean. He finished tied for 17th at The Abaco Club, using a private jet coupon from a previous win to ensure he made it to La Quinta on time.
And this is the part most people miss... if Brown makes the cut on Saturday, he'll be the first player in modern history to play eight competitive rounds across the PGA and Korn Ferry tours in just eight days! That's right, he's played six rounds already, and if he makes it to Sunday, he'll have achieved an unprecedented feat.
But here's the twist: another player, TJ Vogel, attempted a similar journey in 2022, but he was cut after Round 3. Vogel's trip to California was on a commercial flight, which might have made a difference.
Brown, a native of Tennessee, has already broken records. At just 16, he became the youngest medalist at stroke play in U.S. Amateur history, surpassing Bobby Jones' 103-year-old record.
So, will Brown make history again on Saturday? And if he does, will he be the first to achieve this remarkable feat? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss this exciting development in the world of golf!
