Blades Brown Makes History at 19 on the PGA Tour

The world of golf has a new star. His name is Blades Brown, he’s just 19 years old, and he’s made PGA Tour history by winning the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico. The young American talent edged out Ben James on the second playoff hole, becoming the youngest winner of a PGA Tour event in the last 95 years.

It was a Sunday to remember for the Tennessee native, who staged an extraordinary comeback on the El Cardonal at Diamante course in Los Cabos. Brown finished the final round with a spectacular 63 (-9), making up seven strokes on the leader and bringing his total to 23 under par (265 strokes). This performance allowed him to tie Ben James and earn the chance to compete for the title in a playoff.

The day initially seemed to be shaping up in favor of Ben James, who had started the final round with a four-stroke lead. However, the young American gradually lost ground, while Brown found his rhythm and accuracy, especially on the back nine, where he made three consecutive birdies to get back into contention for the win.

James still managed to catch up thanks to an eagle on the 18th, after a second shot from about 260 meters that allowed him to sink a putt from about six meters. The two thus went to a playoff, played on the same hole. After both missed their chances to seal the win on the first extra hole, the decision came on the second. James missed his birdie putt, while Brown sank his from less than one meter, erupting in joy.

With this victory, Brown became the youngest PGA Tour winner since 1931, when Charles Kocsis won the Michigan Open at age 18. The 19-year-old from Tennessee is also the youngest teenager to win on the tour since Jordan Spieth, who won the John Deere Classic in 2013.