By just being at the American Express, Blades Brown had amazed the golfing world.
18-year-old Blades Brown made headlines by playing on the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour’s development tour, then flying to PGA West on Wednesday to play the American Express the same week.
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But Brown isn’t here to take part. Shooting a second-round score of 60, he’s challenging Scottie Scheffler at the top of the leaderboard, tied for first. Are we watching the birth of golf’s next big thing?
Rickie Fowler had a similarly quick rise to stardom. As a 19-year-old in 2008, the American went one under in his opening round of the US Open to start his tournament tied for seventh.
After Friday’s action at the American Express, he reacted to Brown’s score of 60.
Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
Rickie Fowler gives Blades Brown key advice for PGA Tour success
Fowler was asked about Brown’s round after his Friday performance, and he gave full credit to his competitor for an incredible performance.
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He said, “I’ve been around him a little bit. Haven’t played with him yet. Obviously, he’s a great player. Yeah, soak it up, have fun. It goes by pretty quickly. This is my 17th year on Tour. Good to see him playing well. That’s really what it’s all about.
“This game’s not getting any older. To see from when I came out, what the kind of average age on Tour to what it is now. I felt like, going into my prime, age kept shifting. So I feel like I’m still in my prime, whatever that might be, or I’m just getting to it.
“But, no, I think the big thing, it’s great to see him play well. Obviously, he had a quick turnaround from the Bahamas. I love seeing good golf, especially someone like him, young. It’s very beneficial to play well early and kind of build that confidence and momentum.”
Because he thinks that the average star on the PGA Tour is getting younger and younger, Fowler was then asked what is the youngest player he could imagine playing on the PGA Tour.
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He gave an interesting answer: “I think it has to get close to being 18, somewhere around there. I feel like, developmental-wise, to get to your kind of speed potential and game potential, I think it’s tough before that.
“Not saying it’s not possible. There’s a lot of kids that are 14, 15 that have plenty of speed and can play golf.
“And Blades is only going to keep getting better. So, yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised seeing guys with plenty of capability at 15 and 16 years old. I just feel like 17, 18, it starts to become a little bit more of a reality.”
How Rickie Fowler is getting on at the American Express
It was a difficult 2025 season for Fowler, who recently admitted that he was struggling with an injury throughout the season. But it’s so far, so good for the 37-year-old in 2026.
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After a second-round 63 on the Nicklaus course, he’s right in contention. Fowler is 14-under on this birdie-fest of a course at PGA West.
That puts him T6, three shots behind Scheffler and Brown at the top of the American Express leaderboard. There’s a long way to go, and it will take a monumental effort to catch the world number one, but it’s great to see Fowler in contention.
This event sees the cut made following Saturday’s action, after the players have had the opportunity to play all three courses. And Fowler has the most difficult course to come: The Stadium Course.
If he navigates that challenge on Saturday, Fowler should be near the top of the standings when all is said and done. That’s a great sign ahead of this new season.
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