Scheffler Already Looking Menacing As 18-Year Old Ties World No. 1 With A Stunning 60.

3 months ago by Comments Off on Scheffler Already Looking Menacing As 18-Year Old Ties World No. 1 With A Stunning 60.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is already looking at his unbeatable best in his very first tournament of the New Year the American Express Championship at Palm Springs in California.

Scheffler had posted flawless rounds of 63 and 64 for 17-under tally before being joined sharing the lead by fellow American in 18-year-old sensation Blades Brown.

Brown capped his near 59 showing with an eagle and 10 birdies.  He was four under through six holes and then came to the back nine, the 1st to ninth holes on the ‘card, and proceeded birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie and then a fifth birdie in a row.

Two days ago, Brown was posting a no-frills, closing round 72 to end T17th in the Korn Ferry Tour event in the Bahamas.

Now the World No. 485th ranked Brown has gone within one birdie in signing for a possible 59, proudly walking off with a just as impressive 10-under 60 that included an eagle and nine birdies for his own 17-under tally to tie the 19-time Tour winning Scheffler

Just two days ago, Brown was in the Bahamas finishing his final round on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Brown needed a birdie from his final three holes but a wayward second shot on the par-five seventh, or his 16th hole of the round, left him scrambling for par, before he had to settle for par once again on the par-three eighth.

He came to the ninth or his 18th, now needing to hole birdie six-foot putt to shoot an incredible 59 and despite missing out on a sub-60 he now has the tournament course record.

Of  special Tour note, Brown at age 18 years, 8 months, 2 days, becomes youngest player in PGA Tour history to record a round of 60 or better (previous: Patrick Cantlay/19 years, 3 months, 7 days).

The teenager was asked about his putt for a 59 at the last and remarked: “I saw my spot just a little before the hole. I got a great read off David Ford. He dripped it in there and it went right dead center.

“So I was thinking, okay, maybe just a little outside right edge. Unfortunately, it didn’t break, but it’s all right. I’m not worried about it.”

And hereunder is a couple of questions also asked of the teenager.

Were you conscious of where you were and the 59 number, and at what point did it creep into your head?

BLADES BROWN: Yeah, I mean, we got off to a hot front nine start.

I mean, I’ll take that any day of the week. Yeah, it crossed my mind, but I was just focused on the things that I could control, and that was executing the shot I had in the present, so…

Q. Last year on the back nine at Nicklaus you had six in a row. Today you started this way. What is it about that nine that gets your juices going?

BLADES BROWN: I just really like this golf course. There’s something about the Nicklaus Course that I just really like. Like, it’s so money. It’s so pure. Everything is just perfectly well kept. I love playing with no wind. So when you put all those things together it’s fun.

Q. It gets a little more difficult tomorrow because you get the Stadium Course. It’s always fun for everybody. Does this kind of round push you to maybe a better performance on that?

BLADES BROWN: Absolutely, yeah, yeah. Like I said, tomorrow obviously the Stadium Course is the more difficult of the three golf courses. I haven’t played it yet, so I’m just going to go see where I can hit it down the fairway, hit it on the green, and try to make a putt.

Q. I have to ask you this: Last year you said your goal for 2025 was to dunk a basketball.

BLADES BROWN: I am so close. I am so close. I mean, probably with the adrenaline I had on 18, I probably could have done it. But, no, I’m really looking forward to the next two days.

PGA TOUR NOTES ON BLADES BROWN

Blades Brown (T1/-17) 

  • Playing on a sponsor exemption in his 10th PGA TOUR start, posts a career-low 60 (previous best: 64/R2/2025 American Express/MC)
  • At 18 years, 8 months, 2 days, becomes youngest player in PGA TOUR history to record a round of 60 or better (previous: Patrick Cantlay/19 years, 3 months, 7 days)
  • Sets tournament 18-hole scoring record at the Nicklaus Tournament Course (previous best: 61, 7 times)
  • Also recorded a 60 last year on the Korn Ferry Tour at the 2025 Compliance Solutions Championship (finished T43)
  • Recorded a back-nine 28 that included seven consecutive scores under par on Nos. 10-16, highlighted by an eagle on No.11
  • 18-year-old turned professional in 2024 and earned special temporary membership on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025; finished No. 68 on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, including four top-25s in 14 starts, to secure 2026 status
  • Best finish in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned start is T2 (2025 Veritex Championship on Korn Ferry Tour); best finish in nine career PGA TOUR starts is T26 (2024 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic)
  • Marks first career lead/co-lead after any round in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event (26 total starts; 10 on PGA TOUR, 16 Korn Ferry Tour)
  • Becomes the youngest player to hold a lead/co-lead after any round on the PGA TOUR since Ty Tryon (17) was a first-round co-leader at the 2001 B.C. Open (finished T37)


Comments are closed.