(Photo credit score: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Images)
Teenager Blades Brown was sharper than anyone through the second spherical of The American Express on Friday at La Quinta, Calif., though his missed 8-foot putt on the ultimate gap prevented historical past.
Needing one birdie over his remaining three holes to set himself up for an elusive spherical of 59, the 18-year-old delivered three pars as an alternative to only miss out on posting the sixteenth sub-60 spherical in PGA Tour historical past.
Brown’s 12-under 60 was nonetheless ok for the course document on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, whereas vaulting right into a tie for the match lead with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at 17-under par 127.
‘Scottie is clearly an unbelievable participant and (I) have my title subsequent to his title on the leaderboard,’ Brown mentioned on the Golf Chanel broadcast. ‘We’re midway there so I’ve numerous golf to go however this weekend, I’m going to deal with executing the pictures I can and see what occurs.’
His two-round begin to the match is much more spectacular contemplating he was enjoying in an occasion within the Bahamas this week and did not arrive within the Palm Springs space till Wednesday night.
The Nashville, Tenn., native skipped school and joined the Korn Ferry Tour final season on a short lived standing, however he does have expertise enjoying within the California desert. His first PGA Tour occasion got here on a sponsor’s exemption at The American Express final yr, however he missed the reduce.
Brown would have been the youngest to publish a 59 on tour forward of Justin Thomas, who was 23 when he completed the feat on the 2017 Sony Open. The most up-to-date to shoot a 59 was Jake Knapp on the Cognizant Classic in February.
After beginning his spherical on the tenth gap and capturing an 8-under 28 over his opening 9 holes, Brown reached 12-under via his fifteenth gap of the day. Poised to succeed in the par-5 seventh gap in two pictures, Brown as an alternative put the strategy shot over the inexperienced and settled for a par.
On his remaining gap, he put his strategy shot to a cushty distance for a birdie however missed the putt on the excessive aspect.
‘I used to be truly fairly calm,’ Brown mentioned concerning the remaining putt, whereas admitting he did have some nerves late within the spherical. ‘… I mentioned ‘OK, I’m going to execute the shot that I do know I can. I’m going to putt this line that I see.’ Unfortunately, it did not go in, however I used to be pleased with the end result I had right this moment.’
Brown shot a 5-under 67 within the first spherical at La Quinta Country Club and can play his remaining two rounds on the host PGA West Stadium Course.
‘I’ll deal with the controllables that I can management and see what occurs,’ Brown mentioned.
–Field Level Media