Blades Brown became the PGA Tour’s youngest winner in 95 years on Sunday when the 19-year-old overcame a seven-shot deficit with a 9-under 63 and beat Ben James with a birdie on the second hole of the World Tech Championship playoff.
Brown became the youngest winner since Charles Kocsis won the Michigan Open in 1931 when he was 18, a tournament that was considered a regional event in the early years of the PGA.
James blew a four-shot lead heading into the final round at El Cardonal in Diamante, then showed his motivation by smoking a 285-yard shot from 20 feet on the par-5 18th and making an eagle to salvage a 70 and force a playoff.
But he missed an 8-foot putt on the second playoff hole and Brown made his 3-footer.
“I’m so obsessed with this game. It tests you in so many ways,” said Brown, who graduated from high school in January. “I love golf, everything it involves and I can’t wait for what’s next.”
For a sleepy FedEx Cup Fall event on the southern tip of Baja California, it was pure theater between two next-generation players. James was the No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University Rankings last season. Brown made the surprising choice to turn professional two years ago while in high school.
Brown was further tested by going through two bags of golf balls on the range while waiting to see if the two-shot lead he had over James would hold, then returning to the 18th to decide it.
On the first extra hole, their approach shots were side by side, about 3 feet apart, and both narrowly missed eagle opportunities. They came back to the 18th tee and their drives were side by side. Both arrived just short of the green.
James almost broke through his pitch and saw it extend 8 feet. Brown, who had a similar shot in regulation that he hit to 6 feet for a closing birdie, this time missed by 3 feet. James’ birdie putt skimmed the right edge and Brown slotted in the winner.
They’ve known each other since their junior years and Brown thinks this is the beginning.
“I got it this time, but I’m sure we’ll be fighting for years,” he said.
With eight players separated by two shots on the back nine, Brown made three straight birdies to share the lead, then left the mistakes to everyone. He made a superb shot for birdie on the final hole to post a score of 23-under 265.
That put him a step ahead of Michael Kim, who played with the Tennessee teenager and made a 12-foot birdie for 64 just before Brown made his putt.
Brown earned his PGA Tour card for 2027 by finishing in the top 20 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list. He now has a two-year exemption, putting him in the elite championship series when the new PGA Tour model begins in 2028.
The victory also secures Brown his first major next year at the PGA Championship.
It was another setback for James, who in 13 starts since turning professional has finished in the top five five times and two runner-up finishes.
Denny McCarthy, winless in nine years in 240 starts on the PGA Tour, made a 30-foot birdie on the 13th hole to take the lead. But he hit pedestrian ground all the way to the par-5 14th and had to settle for par. With a wedge in hand from the 15th fairway, he missed from 40 feet and three-putted for bogey.
McCarthy’s tee shot on the 17th was to the right of the tee box on the 18th, he placed his next shot on a dirt path into a hazard and made double bogey. He shot 69.
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