The golf world is adding another professional to its group of elite athletes: 17-year-old Blades Brown.
Yes, you read that correctly. Blades Brown, the top-ranked athlete in the class of 2026, is turning professional. Tuesday, Brown made the decision official on Instagramannouncing that he is foregoing college and will begin competing next year.
The Nashville native is a rising star turning heads along the way. But now there will be even more attention on his game as he moves up the professional ladder, and you’ll want to follow his career.
If you’re wondering who Brown is and what you need to know about the young golfer, we’ve got you covered. Here are more facts about the teenage phenom, including her ties to the WNBA.
1. Blades Brown etched his name into the record books with Tiger Woods and Bobby Clampett
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Brown is a golf genius and after winning three consecutive TSSAA golf state championships at Brentwood Academy, he left school to pursue his career.
This decision paid off as, in 2023, Brown became the youngest medalist in American amateur history. He joined a historic group of golfers, including Tiger Woods and Bobby Clampett, as the only players to medal in a U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur competition.
2. Blades Brown’s mother was a former No. 1 WNBA selection
Perhaps it shouldn’t shock anyone that Brown is an elite athlete who has already made history. His mother is former No. 1 overall selection Rhonda Blades Brown.
After a four-year basketball career at Vanderbilt, Rhonda Blades Brown entered the WNBA, where she became the first overall pick in the 1998 expansion draft. The former guard was also the league’s first overall pick to make a 3-point shot.
3. Blades Brown makes professional golf debut in 2025
Golf fans won’t have to wait long to see Brown in action. Use a sponsor exemptionhe will make his professional debut at the American Express golf tournament in La Quinta, California on January 13, 2025.
The bye is a special invitation from a tournament sponsor that allows a golfer to bypass traditional qualifying processes.
No more golf!
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This article was originally published on For The Win: Who is Blades Brown? Meet the Teenage Golfer Whose Mom is a Former WNBA All-Star
