Blades Brown Joins Scottie Scheffler at the Top of the Leaderboard at the PGA Tour American Express
In a remarkable display of talent and composure, 18-year-old Blades Brown shot an impressive 12-under par 60, tying him with world number one Scottie Scheffler early in the second round of the PGA Tour American Express in La Quinta, California.
Blades Brown Makes History
Blades Brown, hailing from Tennessee, has now etched his name in golf history as the youngest player ever to score 60 or lower on the PGA Tour. Just shy of achieving a 59, his birdie attempt on his final hole narrowly missed, sliding past on the right side.
“I’m so stoked to have shot 60 on the PGA Tour,” Brown expressed, acknowledging the nerves that surfaced during the final three holes. His performance came on the Nicklaus Tournament course, one of the three venues used over the tournament’s first three rounds.
A Stellar Start in La Quinta
Brown’s journey began with a stellar start as he teed off from the 10th hole. In just seven holes, he managed an astonishing eight under, thanks to an eagle and six birdies. His second hole featured a birdie, followed by consecutive birdies on the fourth, fifth, and sixth holes that propelled him to 12-under for the day.
Despite a missed opportunity on the par-five seventh, where he settled for par after an errant second shot found the rough, he remained focused. At the par-four ninth, he had one last chance to make history. A powerful drive followed by a crisp wedge left him a birdie opportunity that, unfortunately, he could not convert.
“Actually, I was pretty calm,” Brown said regarding the final putt. “I said, ‘OK, I’m going to execute the shot that I know I can.’ I’m really happy with the outcome I had today.”
A Whirlwind Week
This achievement caps off a whirlwind week for Brown. After finishing tied for 17th in the Korn Ferry developmental tour event in the Bahamas, he received a sponsor’s exemption for the opportunity to compete in La Quinta, California.
Heading into the weekend, Brown and Scheffler share the lead with a combined score of 17-under 127. Scheffler, making his season debut after a successful 2025 campaign that included two major titles and six wins, carded eight birdies en route to an eight-under 64 on the same Nicklaus Tournament course.
Looking Ahead
While thrilled with his position alongside Scheffler, Brown remains grounded and focused. “We’re halfway there. We’ve got a lot of golf to go,” he commented, stressing the importance of taking care of himself. His immediate plans included catching up on rest: “I’m going to go take a nap.”
Leaderboard Snapshot
As of now, Brown and Scheffler lead by one stroke over South Korean Kim Si-Woo, who posted a 65 on the more challenging Stadium Course, bringing his total to 16-under 128. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kim Seong-hyeon and American Matt McCarty trail closely.
Notably, American Andrew Putnam also flirted with a 59, ultimately carding a 12-under 60 on the La Quinta course, leaving him 12-under for the tournament.
With two rounds left to play, the excitement surrounding the American Express tournament continues to build, showcasing both established stars and emerging talent in the world of professional golf.
