The 16-year-old Blades Brown made the cut at the Myrtle Beach Classic, capping off an incredible week for him on the PGA Tour. He credits Jordan Spieth, the three-time major winner, for inspiring him.
In recent weeks, a number of young talents have emerged to make their mark on the PGA Tour. Blades Brown, an amateur who is 16 years old, is the latest addition to this group.
With eight holes remaining in the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina, the American is tied for 22nd place after three rounds. On Saturday, he shot an impressive five-under-par 66. There are only 70 players who qualified to compete in the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow; this tournament is an alternative event.
Brown has taken full advantage of his chance to shine, imitating his 16-year-old English colleague Kris Kim, who last week at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas became the youngest player to make the cut at a PGA Tour event in 11 years. Miles Russell, a 15-year-old high school freshman, made history last month when he became the youngest player to ever make the cut at an event on the PGA Tour’s feeder circuit, the Korn Ferry Tour.
Brown is currently ranked 176th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and as the fourth-ranked junior amateur in the United States, but his performance at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club will undoubtedly propel him up the rankings the following week.
After his outstanding round on Saturday, Brown told reporters that Jordan Spieth, the three-time major champion, had a significant impact on him when he was twelve years old and dreamed of becoming a professional golfer.
“I know it’s so little for me to do that to some little kid, but I know to that kid it means the world because that’s what it was like for me,” Brown remarked. “I’m trying to act the way that Jordan Spieth did to me that one time.”
“That was the practice round for the 2018 Masters. The 18-hole shot was it. He leaned in, said hello, asked me my name, and made me feel comfortable around him. That is the influence’s gift. Although it was just him saying hello to a small child, it meant the world to me for a person of his caliber and decorum.”
On the course, Spieth is well known for lending his time to younger admirers. The 30-year-old broke through the field at the 2022 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town with a stellar final round that put him in the clubhouse lead at 13-under-par. Dozens of children waited in line to get photos and autographs from their hero as he exited the 18th green.
Spieth handled the situation with poise, considering the possibility of making the playoffs. “Hey guys,” he addressed the children. “I’m going to go inside and hide out for a little while, and then I swear I’ll be back here. I have to wait to see if there might be a playoff or not. Either a playoff will occur, or if none, it will happen after someone else wins. I’ll be back, alright guys.”
The former world champion kept his promise. Though he stumbled, Patrick Cantlay did manage to tie Spieth’s score and force a playoff. Cantlay made a bogey to give the 2017 Open champion the victory and the coveted red tartan jacket, but Spieth was able to get up and down from the greenside bunker to make par.
And shortly after the winner’s ceremony, Spieth made his way back to the area where the kids had been eagerly anticipating their hero’s arrival. There, he signed golf balls, gave away hats, and posed for a ton of photos before the dusk fell.
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