Si Woo Kim is currently in the lead at The American Express, while Scottie Scheffler and Blades Brown are just one stroke behind him. This exciting scenario unfolded on Saturday as the trio heads into the final round of the tournament.
In an interview after Round 3, Kim showcased a remarkable performance with a score of 6-under 66, taking advantage of the favorable conditions at La Quinta Country Club. Meanwhile, Scheffler and Brown tackled the more challenging Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA WEST, where even mild winds can turn the game into a test of skill. Both golfers scored 68, but their paths to that score were quite different.
Blades Brown, only 18 years old and hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, demonstrated remarkable maturity despite his youth. He finished strong with three consecutive birdies that tied him with the world No. 1 player, Scheffler. Remarkably, this was Brown's seventh straight round of golf after competing in a Korn Ferry Tour event in The Bahamas. His youthful exuberance shone through as he engaged with a young fan by playing "rock, paper, scissors" and then made impressive birdie putts from 25 feet on the par-3 17th hole and 45 feet on the 18th.
On the other hand, Scheffler faced more challenges during his round, battling the wind that began to pick up as he played the second hole. He ended up with two bogeys, which is quite significant for him, given his usual consistency. However, he managed to save himself from an additional bogey by sinking a clutch 25-foot par putt that curled in dramatically.
As it stands, Kim leads with a cumulative score of 22-under 194, closely followed by Scheffler and Brown. The excitement continues to build as they prepare to compete in the final group on Sunday at the Stadium Course.
Among these competitors, Brown stands out as a particularly intriguing figure. If he wins, he would make history as one of the youngest champions in nearly a century — potentially even longer! Charles Kocsis holds the record for being the youngest winner of the Michigan Open at just 18 years and 6 months back in 1931, but that event was considered regional. The legendary Young Tom Morris won The Open Championship at age 17 in 1868, making Brown's potential victory all the more compelling.
What makes this feat even more impressive is the journey leading up to it. Brown tied for 17th place at the Korn Ferry Tour event that concluded just days ago. He then took a private jet to California, arriving at his hotel roughly 14 hours before teeing off. While many would feel exhausted from such travel, Brown remains unfazed, excited about the chance ahead of him.
"I feel great," he expressed. "I've got another opportunity to see what we can make happen tomorrow. Just one more round to go, and it should be a lot of fun."
The camaraderie between the three competitors adds another layer to the final round. Scheffler has been instrumental in getting Kim a membership at Royal Oaks in Dallas, where they regularly play together, often engaging in friendly competition. In a light-hearted moment, Scheffler acknowledged that Kim had bested him in their last matchup, humorously noting, "Yes, I gave him back a little of his money."
Kim's own history at PGA WEST is notable; he was just 17 when he successfully navigated the last edition of Q-school for the PGA TOUR, waiting until he turned 18 to officially join. By the age of 21, he had already clinched THE PLAYERS Championship, marking one of his four TOUR victories.
His personality has endeared him to many on the tour, with Scheffler stating, "Have you ever spent any time with him? He's hilarious!"
Looking ahead to Sunday, while the atmosphere may be serious as they contend for the title, all players know the importance of staying focused amidst the excitement of the final group. Notably, scores have remained low, even with challenging wind conditions. Former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and Eric Cole each recorded impressive rounds of 66 at La Quinta, putting them just two shots behind the leaders. Tom Hoge also made a strong showing with a 65, creating a tightly contested leaderboard where nine players are separated by just four strokes.
Among these competitors, Brown’s story is particularly remarkable. Having turned professional last year while still in high school, he has received a sponsor exemption to participate in The American Express for the second consecutive year.
"I’m 18 years old playing on the PGA TOUR. How awesome is that?" Brown exclaimed, reflecting on his recent graduation from high school just two weeks prior. "It’s nice to have that burden off my back, but I’m really looking forward to tomorrow."
With all eyes on the final round, the excitement is palpable. Will Brown achieve a monumental victory, or will one of the more seasoned players like Kim or Scheffler take the crown? Only time will tell.
