Teenager Blades Brown made history on Sunday by beating Ben James on the second hole of a playoff to win the World Wide Technology Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
At 19 years, five months and 18 days old, Brown became the youngest winner on the PGA Tour since 1931 and the fourth youngest in tour history. He is nearly six months younger than Jordan Spieth was when the three-time major champion claimed his first win at the 2013 John Deere Classic, the last time the tour had a teenage winner.
“It’s crazy. I just think back to all the people that are in my life,” Brown said on the Golf Channel broadcast, before thanking his parents, sister, coach and sponsors. “There’s so many people that believe in me, and to finally get my first win under my belt is pretty special.”
Brown started the day seven shots off the pace but fired a 9-under-par 63 to soar to 23-under 265. James — who entered the day with a four-shot lead — had to rally just to force a playoff with Brown. Down two with two holes to play, James missed a 20-foot birdie try at No. 17 but sank an eagle putt at the par-5 18th from about the same distance.
“Playoff holes are just — they’re incredible,” Brown said. “It tests you in so many different ways. I saw Ben miss that putt on No. 17 and now all of a sudden, I have a two-shot lead, and making eagle on this final hole is no easy task. Then I was hitting balls and saw he made it, and I was like, ‘Alright. Playoff. Let’s go.'”
They headed back to the 18th tee, and both players birdied it the first time through. On the second playthrough, James had a 6-footer for birdie but left it low, and Brown converted his from about 5 feet for the victory.
The playoff pitted two of the sport’s top young prospects, both seeking their first career victory. James, 23, earned his tour card this past summer by finishing atop the PGA Tour University rankings; he has since rolled up five top-five finishes, counting Sunday.
“I’ve known Ben since we were amateur golfers, and he is such an unbelievable player,” Brown said. “He is lights out with the putter. I got him this time, but I’m sure we’re going to be battling out years to come.”
As for Brown, he spent the past two seasons playing mostly Korn Ferry Tour events and secured his PGA Tour card by finishing in the top 20 of the Korn Ferry Tour season standings.
A native of Nashville and the son of former WNBA player Rhonda Blades, Brown decided to forego college and turn pro in December 2024 at age 17.
“I’m just so obsessed with this game,” Brown said. “It tests you in so many different ways, and I think it’s a good metaphor for life. Sometimes you hit it just how you want to and you get a bad break, and sometimes you don’t hit it very well and it goes to 2 feet. So you kind of just got to play it wherever it lies.
“I love golf, I love all the stuff that goes into it and can’t wait for what’s next.”
Brown had five birdies on each side of his card and fired a 5-under 31 on the back nine, including a 27-foot birdie putt at No. 13 and a 23 1/2-footer at No. 15.
For James, the week was far from a waste. He will jump nine spots to a projected No. 53 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. Finishing Nos. 51-60 qualifies players for the first two signature events of 2027.
“Definitely a lot of emotions,” James said. “I mean, it was a long day. I fought really, really hard. Really poor start, poor front nine. Drove the green on 10, three-putted. I couldn’t really get anything going.”
Michael Kim needed eagle at the final hole to get into the playoff but settled for birdie and a round of 64 to place third at 22 under. Japan’s Kensei Hirata (66) was fourth at 21 under, and David Ford (66) took fifth at 20 under.