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Brown, 19, becomes youngest PGA winner in 95 years
Blades Brown, 19, won the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico, becoming the youngest PGA Tour winner in 95 years. His victory came after a dramatic comeback and earns him a place in his first major, next year’s PGA Championship.
Brown shot a nine-under-par 63, including a birdie on the 18th, to recover from seven shots behind and force a play-off with fellow American Ben James. They finished regulation on 23 under, and Brown won on the second play-off hole; Michael Kim was third on 22 under. Aged 19 years and 171 days, Brown is the youngest winner since Charles Kocsis in 1931 and the first teenage PGA Tour winner since Jordan Spieth in 2013.
In short
- Blades Brown won in Mexico at 19.
- He came back from seven shots behind.
- The win secures his first major place.
Explained simply
The PGA Tour is the leading men’s professional golf circuit in the United States, with tournaments played in several countries. Players compete over four rounds, and the winner is usually the golfer who completes the course in the fewest strokes.
A play-off is used when players are tied after the scheduled rounds: they play extra holes until one has the lower score. The PGA Championship is one of golf’s four major tournaments, which are among the sport’s most prominent events and bring together leading players.
Winning on the PGA Tour can bring greater recognition and opportunities to compete in major events. Brown’s age also places his achievement in the context of a long gap since a teenager last won a Tour event.