Blades Brown Becomes PGA Tour’s Youngest Winner In 95 Years

Blades Brown, 19, won the World Wide Technology Championship on Sunday, becoming the youngest winner on the PGA Tour in 95 years.

Brown beat fellow American Ben James on the second playoff hole after the two finished tied at 23 under par. Brown shot a nine-under 63 in regulation, including a birdie at the 18th, to come from seven shots behind.

At 19 years and 171 days, Brown is the youngest PGA Tour winner since Charles Kocsis, who was 18 when he won the 1931 Michigan Open, then considered a regional event. Brown is also the first teenager to win on the tour since Jordan Spieth won the 2013 John Deere Classic at 19 years and 352 days.

The victory earns Brown a place in next year’s PGA Championship, his first major championship.

Brown said the scale of the achievement had not yet sunk in. He recalled watching Tiger Woods and other major champions on television as a five-year-old and described the idea of now being a PGA Tour winner alongside such players as “mind-blowing.” He added that he loves golf and everything the game demands, and said he is eager for what comes next.

Michael Kim finished third at 22 under, with Kensei Hirata one shot further back at 21 under. Brown turned professional at 17 and secured his PGA Tour card earlier this year by finishing in the top 20 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list.