17-year-old phenom reveals what part of his game he must improve to compete on PGA Tour

Blades Brown’s first PGA Tournament as a professional showed what the 17-year-old phenom is capable of but also gave him a glimpse into what he needs to work on to be able to compete consistently in the top tier of men’s professional golf.

Brown, who decided to turn pro in December, made his first professional start at the American Express in La Quinta, Calif. Brown opened with a ho-hum even-par round but bounced back with an eight-under 64 in Round 2. Brown made eight birdies in a nine-hole stretch and gave himself a chance to make the 54-hole cut at the AmEx. But Brown stumbled during the third round, shooting a two-over-par 74, which included a water ball on the 17th hole to miss the cut.

The budding star showed impressive composure and wisdom after the heartbreaking missed cut.

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Still, the experience at the AmEx, as well as his made cut at the Myrtle Beach Classic as an amateur, showed him what he needs to work on to compete on the PGA Tour consistently.

“I’d say just hitting fairways,” Brown told Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz on the latest episode of GOLF’s “Subpar.” To be able to go at some of the pins that are here on the PGA Tour, you have to be in the fairway. I’d say that hitting as many fairways as possible allows me to go at some of the pins, especially with how firm the greens are. You’ve got to be able to spin the ball.”

Asked what his biggest weapon on the course is right now, Brown was quick to give a nod to his putter.

“I’d say right now, my strength is my putter,” Brown said. “I love to putt. I think it’s very artistic. I think there are so many different ways to make a putt.

“Think about it. You have all these people showing you the line, showing you what it does. I think there are plenty of ways to putt. For me, for example, I like to drip the ball in and some people like to ram the ball in. Each person has their own unique way to putt. You just have to figure out what works best for you.”

To hear more from Brown, check out the full episode below.