Blades Brown is 17 and already facing a fork in the road of his pro golf career
Blades Brown is still three weeks away from his 18th birthday and already facing another fork in the road.
The first big turn came in December when Brown decided to skip college and turn professional without status on any tour.
He has played four PGA Tour events on sponsor exemptions and made one cut, a tie for 34th in the Mexico Open. He took two sponsor exemptions on the Korn Ferry Tour and made the cut without cracking the top 40.
And then one week changed everything.
Brown used the third of his maximum four exemptions on the Korn Ferry Tour last week at the Veritex Bank Championship in Arlington, Texas. He opened with a 61 and finished in a five-way tie for second place, three shots behind Johnny Keefer.
The next stop was supposed to be a 45-minute drive north of Dallas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on the PGA Tour with a $9.9 million purse. Instead, Brown chose to fly to Mexico for another Korn Ferry Tour start.
It would appear to be the right turn.
That runner-up finish was worth 167 points and moved Brown to No. 44 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list. That leaves him just 53 points away from special temporary membership, which is crucial to someone in his position.
He earned his way into the Tulum Championship at PGA Riviera Maya this week by finishing among the top 25. To play the CJ Cup Byron Nelson would have meant giving up a free start on the Korn Ferry Tour, leaving him only one more exemption the rest of the season.
And if he plays well enough in Mexico — a top 15 should do the trick — Brown could get enough points for special temporary membership. He would not be able to accept it until May 21 when he turns 18.
But that would give him unlimited exemptions and make him eligible to improve his category ranking, effectively giving him a full Korn Ferry schedule for the rest of the year. The top 20 in points at the end of the season earn PGA Tour cards. At worse, he has a place to play.
'I say this to my caddie all the time, like every single event that I play in I feel like I'm exponentially better, more relaxed,' Brown said after the second round last week. 'I think that comes with just experience. Like anything you do for a while, you're going to get more acclimated and comfortable.
'Yeah, I'm really excited for what's to come.'
His decision to skip the PGA Tour and stay on the minor league circuit is reminiscent of the decision Jordan Spieth faced as a 19-year-old in 2013. He turned pro after one full year at Texas and one failure at Q-school when he didn't get out of the second stage.
Spieth missed the cut at Torrey Pines and tied for 22nd at Pebble Beach. And then he headed south of the border for what now is the Korn Ferry Tour. He tied for seventh in Panama. He tied for fourth in Colombia.
And then came a fork in the road.
Spieth had a sponsor exemption the following week in the Puerto Rico Open. Status was based on money back then, and Spieth was about $4,000 short of earning full status on the Korn Ferry Tour. He wanted to give back the Puerto Rico Open exemption and head to Chile to lock up his status. Part of him felt compelled to honor his commitment to Puerto Rico.
'We sat there for 30 minutes trying to figure it out,' Spieth said at the time.
He chose Puerto Rico, which proved to be the right move.
Spieth tied for second, which got him into the next PGA Tour stop at Innisbrook for the Tampa Bay Championship. He chipped in for birdie (a sign of big moments to come) on the 17th hole and finished with a 7-foot par putt to tie for seventh, giving him enough money for special temporary membership on the PGA Tour.
Four months later, Spieth won the John Deere Classic. By the end of the season, he was the youngest American to play in the Presidents Cup.
Spieth was special. He was a two-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion, the No. 1 player in the American Junior Golf Association ranking. His athletic genes came from a father who played college baseball and a mother who played college basketball (his younger brother, Steven, played basketball for Brown and later in Europe).
Brown is a different player cutting a different path, though he also has golf history and athletic stock worth noting.
His mother, Rhonda Blades, played basketball at Vanderbilt and spent four years in the WNBA, where she has the distinction of making the first 3-pointer in WNBA history (her only points that game for the New York Liberty).
Brown also was No. 1 in the AJGA ranking and earned a measure of fame at the 2023 U.S. Amateur when at 16 he became the youngest player to share medalist honors, breaking a century-old record held by 18-year-old Bobby Jones.
That led to making his PGA Tour debut last year at the Myrtle Beach Classic, where Brown made the cut a week before his 17th birthday. Two weeks later, Brown and Jackson Herrington were runner-up in the U.S. Amateur Four-ball.
During Elections
Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election.
He is making moments and he's not even 18, traveling with his father, unable to rent a car but already curious where the road leads.
Brown is not the first teenager in a hurry. Akshay Bhatia turned pro at 17 in 2019. He went through some lean times and spent two years on the Korn Ferry Tour before finding his way. Now at 23, he has two PGA Tour titles and is No. 26 in the world.
Brown still has a long way to go. This trip to Mexico might not be the first detour.
___
On The Fringe analyzes the biggest topics in golf during the season. AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Dustin Johnson says he ‘can grind for another six years' before stepping away
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — So much about Dustin Johnson returning to Oakmont is about reliving past glory. He won his first major championship at the U.S. Open under extreme and bizarre conditions that allowed him to exorcise so many demons in the majors and become the best player in the world. That was nine years ago. The question now is how much golf he has left. 'I think I've got another six years in me,' Johnson said, contemplating the question only briefly before coming up with a most arbitrary number. 'I can grind for another six years. And then I'm going fishing.' Recent results would suggest he already has one line in the water. Johnson already has a Hall of Fame career with his 24 titles on the PGA Tour, two majors, the only player to sweep the World Golf Championships, one of only five players to have been No. 1 in the world for more than 100 weeks. He turns 41 in two weeks. Why grind? 'Because I want to get back,' he said. 'Because I know I've still got it.' Johnson was the biggest name to sign with Saudi-funded LIV Golf in 2022 when the golf world was turned upside down. He was on the fringe of contention that summer at St. Andrews and the next year in the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. He won in each of the first three years on the rival circuit of short fields (54 players) and short weeks (54 holes). The last 16 months have made him feel like an afterthought. He has not finished among the top three on LIV in his last 20 events. He has missed the cut in five of his last seven majors. He tied for 10th last week on LIV, which he considered progress. 'I feel like my game's been really close,' he said. 'I haven't really got a lot out of it. So it was definitely nice to have a nice finish last week. I played good every day. I didn't … you know, still kind of giving away some shots. I need to clean that up a little bit.' There is rarely any urgency to anything Johnson does, and that six-year window comes with a caveat. He has two more years left on his 10-year exemption from winning at Oakmont in 2016. Next month will be his last free pass to the British Open from his 2020 Masters victory. He needed a special invitation to the PGA Championship this year. Johnson has played only one non-major since joining LIV. That was the Saudi International at the end of last year. He missed the cut. Yes, Oakmont seems like a long time ago. Few players have endured more misfortune in the majors and have been able to shake it off. There was the 82 in the final round at Pebble Beach in the 2010 U.S. Open. He was knocked out of a playoff at Whistling Straits that year in the PGA Championship for setting his 4-iron into sand where spectators had been sitting. That was deemed to be a bunker. He had a 12-foot eagle putt to win the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, only for it to slide some 4 feet by on a green that had hardly any grass. He missed the birdie putt and finished one behind Jordan Spieth. His mental toughness is underrated. Imagine playing the last seven holes of a U.S. Open not knowing the score because the USGA was trying to decide whether to penalize him for a ball that moved on the fifth green of the final round at Oakmont. Johnson played on, not giving it another thought, winning by three after he was assessed one penalty shot in scoring. 'That Sunday was a little weird,' he said. Chaos would have been another word to describe it. That's not in Johnson's vocabulary even though it seems like it should be. Ask almost any PGA Tour loyalist which LIV player they miss seeing, and Johnson's name is at the top of the list. 'There have been two guys since 2010 that I thought in full flight, I loved watching them play. And it was Rory (McIlroy) and DJ,' Adam Scott said. Scott recalled a morning round at Riviera in the cool Pacific air. They were playing the 13th, which bends to the left around the eucalyptus trees. Scott hit a perfect draw. Johnson unloaded his high cut over the trees, a carry of nearly 310 yards in the heavy air. 'I just thought, 'That is insane.' Just the freedom he played with and the freedom of the swing and athleticism,' Scott said. 'And then he gets up and hit a three-finger 7-iron, super soft, a buttery shot after pounding one. Super impressive.' Those were the days. Those are the memories, all while Johnson is trying to believe he can create new ones. He is running out of time. And that's OK. When not on LIV — and not fishing — he is home with his two boys, Tatum and River. The latter was born on the Monday before Johnson's U.S. Open title defense at Erin Hills. He says he would have withdrawn if he wasn't the defending champion. He missed the cut. Back then, a missed cut at a major was rare. Now he is searching for a good week of driving, like he had at Oakmont in 2016. He is playing with Spieth, his longtime partner at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Those were fun days. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'It's always good to play majors. It's the only time to see the other guys,' Johnson said. 'We've got a good group in LIV, but I don't get to see everybody. Hopefully, things will kind of come back together somehow.' Within six years? Johnson was asked if he could see himself on the PGA Tour Champions if it ever got sorted out. 'I've always said if I'm playing the Champions tour, something really, really went wrong,' he said, breaking into a big smile before adding, 'But with me, there's always that chance.' ___ AP golf:
Toronto Star
19 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Seattle reunites Bilka with Knight in PWHL expansion draft; Vancouver opens by adding Ottawa D Bell
Forward Hannah Bilka was reunited in Seattle with former Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight in the PWHL's expansion draft Monday night. Seattle and fellow league newcomer Vancouver took distinct approaches in continuing to build their respective identities during the seven-round draft. Seattle general manager Meghan Turner split her picks in selecting three forwards and four defensemen. Meanwhile, Vancouver GM Cara Gardner Morey chose five forwards and two defensemen, starting with the opening selection of Ottawa blueliner Ashton Bell. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The expansion draft followed the PWHL's five-day exclusive signing period in which both teams signed their allowed maximum of five players. The order of selection was determined by a ball drawing, with Vancouver winning and Gardner Morey choosing to select Bell first. Seattle then had the next two picks in choosing Ottawa defenseman Aneta Tejralova and then Bilka. Each team then followed with two selections apiece, with Seattle getting the 14th and final pick. Seattle focused on adding offensive forwards to join the already signed trio of Knight, Alex Carpenter and Danielle Serdachny. Aside from Bilka, Boston's first pick in the 2024 draft, Seattle drafted New York forward Jessie Eldridge, who finished tied for fifth in the league with 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) last season, and Toronto forward Julia Gosling, the Sceptres first-round pick in last year's draft. On defense, Seattle also chose Toronto's Megan Carter, Boston's Emily Brown and Montreal's Anna Wilgren, who is reunited with Victoire blueliner Cayla Barnes, who was signed last week. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Brown's selection was notable from a Seattle perspective. Brown captured the attention of former WNBA Seattle Storm star Sue Bird, who was in attendance during Boston's neutral-site game against Montreal at Seattle in January. Bird took a picture of Brown in the penalty box with the caption, 'Bad Girl.' Fleet players eventually had the picture printed on T-shirts. In Vancouver, Bell and Boston's Sydney Bard join a blueline group that already includes the Minnesota offensive-minded tandem of Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques. After selecting Bell, Vancouver went on a run of selecting five forwards, including Toronto's Izzy Daniel, who closed her senior season at Cornell in being selected the 2024 Patty Kazmaier award winner as women's hockey MVP. Daniel joins former Toronto teammate Sarah Nurse, who signed with Vancouver last week. Vancouver also selected the Minnesota forward tandem of Brooke McQuigge and Denisa Krizova, Montreal forward Abby Boreen and New York forward Gabby Rosenthal. Both expansion franchises are working under the same salary-cap restrictions as the league's other six teams, though the PWHL does not reveal player salaries. And both enjoy an advantageous head start with the league limiting existing teams to initially protecting only three players, before allowed to add a fourth player to the list after a team loses two from its roster. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Each of the existing teams lost four players apiece, with the rules favoring the expansion teams by allowing them to be competitive from the start of the PWHL's third season, expected to open in November. With each having 12-player rosters, the expansion teams now join the rest of the league in taking part in the PWHL draft on June 24 in Ottawa. ___ AP women's hockey:
Winnipeg Free Press
19 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Seattle reunites Bilka with Knight in PWHL expansion draft; Vancouver opens by adding Ottawa D Bell
Forward Hannah Bilka was reunited in Seattle with former Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight in the PWHL's expansion draft Monday night. Seattle and fellow league newcomer Vancouver took distinct approaches in continuing to build their respective identities during the seven-round draft. Seattle general manager Meghan Turner split her picks in selecting three forwards and four defensemen. Meanwhile, Vancouver GM Cara Gardner Morey chose five forwards and two defensemen, starting with the opening selection of Ottawa blueliner Ashton Bell. The expansion draft followed the PWHL's five-day exclusive signing period in which both teams signed their allowed maximum of five players. The order of selection was determined by a ball drawing, with Vancouver winning and Gardner Morey choosing to select Bell first. Seattle then had the next two picks in choosing Ottawa defenseman Aneta Tejralova and then Bilka. Each team then followed with two selections apiece, with Seattle getting the 14th and final pick. Seattle focused on adding offensive forwards to join the already signed trio of Knight, Alex Carpenter and Danielle Serdachny. Aside from Bilka, Boston's first pick in the 2024 draft, Seattle drafted New York forward Jessie Eldridge, who finished tied for fifth in the league with 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) last season, and Toronto forward Julia Gosling, the Sceptres first-round pick in last year's draft. On defense, Seattle also chose Toronto's Megan Carter, Boston's Emily Brown and Montreal's Anna Wilgren, who is reunited with Victoire blueliner Cayla Barnes, who was signed last week. Brown's selection was notable from a Seattle perspective. Brown captured the attention of former WNBA Seattle Storm star Sue Bird, who was in attendance during Boston's neutral-site game against Montreal at Seattle in January. Bird took a picture of Brown in the penalty box with the caption, 'Bad Girl.' Fleet players eventually had the picture printed on T-shirts. In Vancouver, Bell and Boston's Sydney Bard join a blueline group that already includes the Minnesota offensive-minded tandem of Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques. After selecting Bell, Vancouver went on a run of selecting five forwards, including Toronto's Izzy Daniel, who closed her senior season at Cornell in being selected the 2024 Patty Kazmaier award winner as women's hockey MVP. Daniel joins former Toronto teammate Sarah Nurse, who signed with Vancouver last week. Vancouver also selected the Minnesota forward tandem of Brooke McQuigge and Denisa Krizova, Montreal forward Abby Boreen and New York forward Gabby Rosenthal. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Both expansion franchises are working under the same salary-cap restrictions as the league's other six teams, though the PWHL does not reveal player salaries. And both enjoy an advantageous head start with the league limiting existing teams to initially protecting only three players, before allowed to add a fourth player to the list after a team loses two from its roster. Each of the existing teams lost four players apiece, with the rules favoring the expansion teams by allowing them to be competitive from the start of the PWHL's third season, expected to open in November. With each having 12-player rosters, the expansion teams now join the rest of the league in taking part in the PWHL draft on June 24 in Ottawa. ___ AP women's hockey:
