Nashville Brown Bladesaged 17, enters Saturday after a memorable day in the second round of his professional golf career.
Brown made 10 birdies Friday during the 2025 PGA Tour American Express golf tournament at the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course in La Quinta, California.
Brown made six birdies in a row on his front nine and had eight birdies in nine holes at one point. Brown shot an 8-under 64, moving into a tie for 41st. He started the day in 117th place after shooting a par 72 in his first round as a professional.
Brown was eight shots behind leaders Charley Hoffman and Rico Hoey, who were at 16 under, to begin Saturday’s round.
Will 17-year-old Blades Brown play in the PGA Tour’s first professional golf tournament?
The cut for the American Express tournament will be made after Saturday’s third round. Brown is tied for 41st heading into the third round.
The top 65 golfers, plus ties, will compete in Sunday’s final round.
What is Blades Brown’s start time for Saturday’s third round?
Brown will tee off at 11:36 a.m. CT Saturday with Isaiah Salinda on the Pete Dye Stadium course, considered the toughest of the three courses where the tournament is held.
Blades Brown American Express Golf Tournament Odds, Handbag
Brown has a +75,000 odds to win the American Express, tied for second in the tournament, according to FanDuel.
His odds, however, are better than those of several big names, including 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett and 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner.
The tournament’s total purse is $8.8 million, with the winner taking home $1.584 million.
How to watch Blades Brown at 2025 American Express online, streaming
The 2025 American Express will stream online with PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT Saturday and Sunday.
Simulcasts of Golf Channel and NBC television coverage will be available on NBCSports.com and on the NBC Sports app.
How to watch Blades Brown, 2025 American Express on TV
Here is the schedule for American Express on Golf Channel.
● Saturday, January 18: 3-6 p.m. CT (Golf Channel)
Why Blades Brown is making his professional golf debut at the PGA Tour American Express tournament
Brown is playing at the 2025 American Express on a sponsor exemption. Its management agency, SportFive, manages the tournament.
Exemptions are key to Brown’s success on the PGA Tour in the 2025 season. The tour allows players up to seven sponsor exemptions each year. SportFive also manages the Puerto Rico Open, the Myrtle Beach Classic and the ISCO Championship.
Top 10 finishers at PGA Tour events are eligible for additional tournament exemptions.
How old is Blades Brown?
Brown, who attended Brentwood Academy near Nashville, is 17 years old.
Is Blades Brown a professional golfer?
Brown decided to forgo college to compete in professional tournaments to earn money. Technically, he is a professional but does not have full-time status on the PGA Tour, meaning he cannot play in all events.
PGA Tour Q-School is the most direct way to tour full-time. Q-School is a month-long series of fall tournaments in which the top five finishers are awarded PGA Tour status.
It’s not uncommon for European players to skip college and turn professional right out of high school. Most Americans choose the university route. But there could be a change as some amateurs, like Brown and the 16-year-old Miles Russellplay PGA Tour events with exemptions.
Akshay Bhatia, aged 17 in 2019, is the last notable American to turn professional. He has since won the Barracuda Championship and the Valero Texas Open.
What Blades Brown and Nick Dunlap have in common
Alabama golfer Nick Dunlap, at 20, became the first amateur in 33 years to earn a victory on the PGA Tour when he captured the American Express title last year. His score of 29-under 259 was the event’s record since it moved to the 72-hole format in 2016.
Brown and Dunlap crossed paths. While Brown won the 2023 U.S. Amateur title in Stroke Play, Dunlap won the U.S. Amateur Championship, outlasting Neal Shipley in the final match.
Has Blades Brown played in a PGA Tour tournament?
Brown finished tied for 26th at the Myrtle Beach Classic in May as an amateur in his first PGA Tour event. He finished at 10-under 209.
Blades Brown broke Bobby Jones’ record and tied Tiger Woods
In 2023, Brown won the stroke play of the US Amateur, considered the toughest amateur tournament in the country. At age 16, he shot an 8-under 64 at Colorado Golf Club to become the youngest medalist in U.S. amateur history, breaking Jones’ 103-year-old record.
Brown was the 2024 US Junior Amateur medalist, shooting rounds of 66-68 (134) at Oakland Hills Country Club in Detroit to join Woods and Clampett as the only players to medal at both the US Junior and US Amateur.
More: Why Blades Brown was named the 2024 Tennessean High School Sportsman of the Year
Brown won three AJGA titles in 2024 and won the Tennessee State Junior by 12 shots. He also represented the United States on the junior and junior national teams in the Presidents Cup.
In high school, he attended Brentwood Academy and won three consecutive TSSAA Division II-AAA state championships (2021-23). In 2023, he tied the TSSAA two-day scoring record at 14-under 130 for the tournament.
Who is Blades Brown’s mother, Rhonda Brown?
Brown’s first name comes from his mother, Rhonda Brownwhose maiden name is Blades.
Rhonda Brown led Vanderbilt women’s basketball to its only Final Four during her career from 1991 to 1995 and became the first overall pick in the WNBA expansion draft in 1998. She made the first field goal at 3 WNBA points in league history in 1997 as a member of the New York Liberty.
More: How did 16-year-old Brentwood Academy star Blades Brown end his PGA Tour debut?
Brown’s mother played seven professional seasons in the WNBA and overseas before becoming a coach at Brentwood Academy, where she won five TSSAA basketball state titles in 23 seasons.
Who sponsors Blades Brown?
Brown’s major golf sponsorships include Callaway golf products and Travis Mathew apparel.
He’s also giving a nod to Tennessee golf this week with a custom bag featuring the Tennessee Golf Foundation logo.
This article was originally published on Nashville Tennessean: Blades Brown scores today: 17-year-old in third round as professional golfer
