As the 2026 PGA Tour season kicked things off with the Sony Open tournament in Hawaii, those around the sport have seen age hold no weight. With a stellar performance by 62-year-old Vijay Singh, he may have been showed up by 18-year-old Blades Brown this weekend. Brown managed to break the course record at The American Express tournament. Yet not before shooting the lowest round in PGA Tour history by someone his age since 1983. The young star was just battling out 72 holes on the Korn Ferry Tour in the Bahamas, and is now tied for first place with Scottie Scheffler. If Brown can keep up the strong pace, he will have a story for many years to come within the sport of golf.
Brown Young Yet Poised
A missed putt on the ninth hole was still good enough to see the Nicklaus Tournament course record, yet inches away from making him the youngest to shoot 59.
“The putt didn’t drop on hole No. 9 but it’s the lowest round on the PGA Tour for me, and lots and lots of positives,” Brown said.
Through two rounds Brown has found himself in good contention with some of the best, the first round with five birdies. Only to jump up 50 places in the second round to join Scheffler, tied for first place with two rounds left.
“Scottie is an unbelievable player, and have my name next to his name on the leaderboard means a lot,” Brown said. “We’re only halfway there, and there’s a lot of golf to go so just going to focus on executing the shots I can and see what happens.”
After joining the Tour straight out of high school, he was already knocking down goals. Breaking a 103-year-old record held by Bobby Jones, as the youngest medalist at stroke play in U.S. Amateur history at the young age of just 16.
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Leave Your Mark
Brown is gearing up to make history by Sunday, with a victory that may forever be remembered in Tour history. To jump up 50 spots in one round is phenomenal, but to also hold off the best golfer in the sport for two more rounds is trailblazing.
The chance at opening the door to ink his name and broadcast his emergence within the sport is ever so bright.
“I’m going to get some food and then I’m going to take a nap and get some food,” Brown said.
With two more meticulous rounds to play, Brown is in position to secure his first ever Tour victory. Primarily on the Korn Ferry Tour, he has now shown those around the sport his capabilities. Career earnings through nine Tour events played, have Brown totaling in at $81,884 of official money. Walking away victorious will guarantee a huge payout for the young buck, and even more of a mental boost to his game.
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