Teenager Blades Brown breaks 95-year PGA record in Baja playoff
The 19-year-old secured a two-year Tour exemption and a PGA Championship berth after defeating Ben James in a sudden-death finish at the World Wide Technology Championship.
By Matthew Collins ·
Blades Brown captured his first PGA Tour title on Sunday at the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico, becoming the youngest winner in 95 years. The 19-year-old secured the victory with a birdie on the second playoff hole, ending a tense sudden-death showdown against Ben James at El Cardonal at Diamante.
Brown finished at 23-under par, a total of 265. He surged to share the lead during the final round by sinking three consecutive birdies on the back nine. His closing 63 included a precise pitch for birdie on the 18th hole, a shot that placed his ball within six feet of the cup.
James, the No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University ranking last season, entered the final round with a four-shot advantage. He dropped that lead but kept the tournament alive with a 285-yard shot on the par-5 18th that landed 20 feet from the hole. He converted that setup for an eagle to card a 70, tying Brown's score and forcing extra play.
The two competitors had known each other since their junior days. On the first playoff hole, their approach shots landed side by side, separated by three feet. Both players narrowly missed eagle opportunities, sending the match back to the 18th tee. Their drives again landed next to each other, and both pitches fell just short of the green.
On the second extra hole, James hit a pitch that stopped eight feet from the cup. Brown, who had hit a similar shot to six feet during regulation, came up three feet short. James' putt grazed the right lip of the cup. Brown then sank his three-foot birdie putt to claim the win.
"I'm so obsessed with this game. It tests you in so many ways," Brown said after the final putt. He graduated high school in January and turned professional two years ago while still a junior.
The victory grants Brown a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. This status qualifies him for the elite Championship Series when the Tour's new model begins in 2028. It also guarantees his first major championship start at next year's PGA Championship. Brown earned his initial Tour card by finishing in the top 20 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list.
The result marked another runner-up finish for James, who has five top-five finishes and two seconds in 13 starts since turning pro. Denny McCarthy, who led the tournament earlier in the day after a 30-foot birdie putt on the 13th, finished with a 69. He missed a critical pitch on the 14th and double bogeyed the 17th.
