Mexico (AFP) – American Blades Brown, 19, became the youngest PGA Tour winner in almost a century this Sunday by winning the playoff of the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico, after signing a final round of 63 strokes and nine under par.

First modification: 09/11/2026 - 02:03

Brown overcame a seven-shot deficit in Cabo San Lucas and defeated Ben James in a sudden-death playoff to cap an unforgettable week on the North American tour.

A native of Tennessee, Brown had started the final day tied for ninth, but completed the lowest round of the day with ten birdies to reach a mark of 23 strokes under par.

A birdie on the 18th hole allowed him to provisionally take over the lead while James, the leader at the beginning of the day, still remained on the course with options to respond.

Needing an eagle on the final hole to equal Brown's mark, James holed a 20-foot putt and forced a playoff on the same par-five.

Both players reached the green in two strokes during the first extra hole, but neither took advantage of the opportunity. Brown missed a birdie opportunity after James also missed.

The definition came in the replay of the 18th hole. After two imprecise approach shots, James missed a putt of less than two meters and Brown took advantage of the opportunity to seal the victory.

"The playoff holes are just amazing. They test you in so many different ways," said Brown, who had to wait a long time between the end of his round and the playoff.

"I was hitting balls and I saw that he hit it, and I thought, 'All right, playoff, let's go.' I've known Ben since we were amateur golfers, and he's just an incredible player. I beat him this time, but I'm sure we'll continue to play each other for years to come."

At 19 years and five months, Brown became the fourth-youngest winner in PGA Tour history and surpassed the mark set by Jordan Spieth - 19 years and 11 months - at the 2013 John Deere Classic as the youngest winner in the modern era.

Michael Kim finished third with 22 under par, one stroke behind the leaders, while Japan's Kensei Hirata finished fourth with 21 under par and David Ford took fifth place.

Brown decided not to attend college and turn pro immediately after high school, a risky bet that began to pay off this season.

"It's crazy... to finally have my first title is something very special," Brown said.

© 2026 AFP

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