Blades Brown, an 18-year-old golf prodigy, stands one shot off the lead at the 2026 American Express tournament in Palm Springs, California. Tied for second at 21 under par with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Brown could become the youngest PGA Tour winner since 1931 if he prevails in Sunday's final round. The teenager, who just completed high school, has dazzled with a record-tying 60 in the second round.
Blades Brown has emerged as a sensation at the 2026 American Express, positioning himself for a historic breakthrough on the PGA Tour. The 18-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee, finished his third round on Saturday at 21 under par, tying Scottie Scheffler for second place, one stroke behind leader Si Woo Kim. Brown will join Kim and Scheffler in the final grouping at PGA West on Sunday afternoon.
Brown's path to this moment is remarkable. He turned professional at 17 after breaking Bobby Jones' 103-year-old record as the youngest medalist in U.S. Amateur history. Balancing golf with education, Brown completed high school online just two weeks ago, crediting his mother, Rhonda Brown—a former Vanderbilt basketball star and the first overall pick in the 1998 WNBA draft—for instilling discipline. Rhonda, now a teacher at Brentwood Academy, holds two degrees from Vanderbilt, including a master's in nursing.
On Friday, Brown fired a 60, tying the lowest score to par in PGA Tour history with 12 under through 15 holes before closing with three pars. Saturday's sub-70 round included birdies on the last three holes, capped by a 25-foot putt on the 17th. "I finished high school about two weeks ago, so it’s nice to have that burden off my back," Brown said Saturday. "But I’m really looking forward to tomorrow."
A win would make Brown the youngest PGA Tour victor since Charles Kocsis in 1931 at 18 years, 6 months, and 9 days—Brown at 18 years, 7 months, and 29 days, per reports. (Another source estimates 18 years, 8 months, and 4 days, reflecting slight variances in tournament timing.) Vegas odds list Scheffler as even-money favorite, with Brown at +850. Regardless of the outcome, Brown reflected, "I’m 18 years old playing on the PGA Tour. How awesome is that?"
This potential triumph echoes 20-year-old Nick Dunlap's amateur win at the same event two years ago, but Brown faces stiffer competition in Scheffler. The Palm Springs conditions have favored low scores, amplifying the excitement around Brown's full-time pro debut.
