maps.golfBlades Brown began Sunday at the World Wide Technology Championship seven shots behind Ben James. He finished it with the trophy.
The 19-year-old shot 63 in the final round at El Cardonal at Diamante, with ten birdies and a single bogey, to finish at 23 under par. James matched him with an eagle on the 72nd hole, and Brown won on the second playoff hole. The Associated Press called him the youngest PGA Tour winner in 95 years.
How the 63 came together
Brown went out in 32 despite a bogey at the 4th, with birdies at 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8. The last of those came from about 6 feet after a 187-yard approach.
At the short 10th he pitched to about 5 feet for another birdie. Then came the run that put him into a share of the lead: three straight birdies at 13, 14 and 15, two of them from more than 20 feet. When Denny McCarthy bogeyed the 15th, Brown was alone in front.
He reached the par-5 18th at 22 under. His drive went 314 yards, his second finished just short of the green, and he pitched to about 6 feet. The putt went in for his tenth birdie of the day.
Two trips down the 18th
James eagled the 18th to tie, so the playoff went straight back to the same hole. On the first trip both players reached the green in two, both just missed eagle putts from around 20 feet, and both made birdie.
On the second, neither found the green in two; both finished short and right. James pitched to about 6 feet and missed. Brown pitched to a few feet and holed the winner.
By the numbers
- 63 in the final round, 265 (23 under) for the week
- 94.6% of fairways hit, with drives averaging 312 yards
- Second in strokes gained: putting for the week
- A $1,080,000 winner's share
Congratulations, Blades. Every shot of the round, both playoff holes included, is in the 3D replay above.