Blades Brown made historical past in his first professional begin, however he did one thing much more spectacular after lacking the reduce.
Getty Pictures
Blades Brown made waves and PGA Tour historical past throughout his second spherical on Friday on the American Categorical in La Quinta, California.
After opening with a pedestrian 72 on Thursday, the 17-year-old Brown, who made his skilled debut this week, made eight birdies in a nine-hole stretch on Friday on the Nicklaus Course to shoot 64. That 64 is the bottom spherical on the PGA Tour by a participant beneath the age of 18 within the final 40 years.
Regardless of the recent Friday, Brown nonetheless wanted a stable spherical on Saturday to make the reduce. However the Pete Dye Stadium Course bought the higher of the 17-year-old as Brown performed the ultimate 5 holes in 4-over-par, together with a water ball on the par-3 seventeenth. He completed his three rounds at 6 beneath, which was three behind the reduce line.
Whereas Brown didn’t have the Saturday he envisioned, the 17-year-old provided knowledge past his 12 monthss as he appears to be like to the long run.
“Golf is a bizarre, humorous sport,” Brown informed Golf Channel after his third spherical. “You’ll have good breaks from unhealthy photographs and unhealthy breaks from good photographs. However I’m going to maintain my head up. That is going to sting somewhat bit, however I’m trying ahead to what’s subsequent.”
Brown plans to make use of his missteps on Saturday as a studying expertise for the following time he tees it up in a PGA Tour occasion. (Brown plans to attempt to Monday qualify into subsequent week’s Farmers Insurance coverage Open.) He’s logged his expertise on the American Categorical. He’ll dissect it later to construct off what was nonetheless a profitable skilled debut, along with his failed tee shot on 17 as a chief instance of how he can higher himself.
“I believe mentally, I positively can develop proper there,” Brown mentioned of the water ball that helped seal his destiny. “I imply, there’s rather a lot occurring on this golf course. I’m grateful and grateful to be right here.”
Brown admitted he was “mentally drained” as he reached the par-3 seventeenth. He’ll must work to metal his thoughts so as to discover a residence on the higher echelon {of professional} golf.
The 17-year-old might solely view his week on the American Categorical as a optimistic — one which included historical past through a scorching putter and loads of classes that ought to assist form him as he tries to traverse the skilled golf panorama.
“It was a blast competing on the PGA TOUR,” Brown mentioned on Saturday. “Sadly, I wasn’t in a position to convert coming down the stretch, however, I imply, a number of apply. I’m glad I’m doing it proper now; that manner I can be taught. My dad all the time says, ‘You win and also you be taught,’ and I’m positively going to be taught from this expertise.”
Blades Brown has the sport to play on the PGA Tour. But it surely takes greater than crisp iron play and an inventive really feel for the greens to win on tour.
After a heartbreaking finish to his American Categorical week, Brown confirmed the psychological fortitude wanted to match his pure swing.
The mix ought to assist craft a vivid future for the 17-year-old phenom. This week was only a glimpse of what may be to come back.
