17-Year-Old Blades Brown Forgoes CJ Cup Byron Nelson Invite To Focus On Korn Ferry Tour Status
Blades Brown, a 17-year-old golf prodigy, has declined his sponsor's invite to the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on the PGA Tour to pursue opportunities on the Korn Ferry Tour after an impressive T2 finish at the Veritex Bank Championship.
At the Veritex event, Brown shot an opening round 61—the lowest score by a player under 18 in Korn Ferry Tour history—and finished with a 63 for a total of 28-under-par. This result surpassed Si Woo Kim's record for best finish by an under-18 player.
Golfer in bright sunlight on course
Brown now needs just 53 points to earn Special Temporary Membership on the Korn Ferry Tour, which would grant him unlimited sponsor's invites for the remainder of the season. A finish of 16th place or better would secure this status.
Having used three of his four allowed sponsor's invites as a non-member, Brown's T2 finish automatically qualified him for this week's Talum Championship in Mexico. This strategic move preserves his final sponsor's invite for future use.
Golfer crouching with putter
Brown's impressive career already includes breaking Bobby Jones' 103-year record as the youngest medallist in the US Amateur Championship history at age 16. He also made the cut at the PGA Tour's Myrtle Beach Classic, finishing T26.
Golfer and caddie on course
The young professional, who left high school 18 months early and bypassed college golf, is now focusing on earning one of the 20 PGA Tour cards available through the Korn Ferry Tour season standings.