[Photo: Orlando Ramirez]
Ben James had the heroic, 72nd-hole eagle, but it was Blades Brown who had a dozen birdies on the day. That included three on the 18th hole (two in overtime) that led to his first PGA Tour victory at the World Wide Technology Championship.
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After both players hit the par-5 18th in two on the first extra hole, both came up short the second time around. Brown was able to get up and down from 35 paces while James failed to do so from 40 metres, missing a six-foot putt that would have extended the competition.
“Playoff holes are… they’re incredible,” Brown said. “It tests you in so many different ways. I saw Ben miss that putt on 17 and now all of a sudden I have a two-shot lead, and making eagle on this final hole is no easy task. Then I was hitting balls and I saw he made it. I’ve known Ben since we were amateur golfers and he’s just such a great player. He’s lights-out with the putter. I got him this time but I’m sure we’re going to be battling it out for years to come.”
This week it was Brown who was lights out with the putter. Using his Odyssey Ai One Double Wide, Brown ranked second in strokes gained/putting, picking up an impressive nine shots on the field. He also was second in putts per green in regulation.
Second in putting but first in the playoff. Not bad for a 19-year-old.
What Blades Brown had in the bag at the 2026 World Wide Technology Championship:
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (Fujikura Ventus Red 8X), 9 degrees
3-wood: Callaway Quantum, 15 degrees
Irons (3): Callaway X Forged UT; (4): Callaway Apex TCB; (5-PW): Callaway Apex MB
Wedges: Callaway Opus SP (50, 54, 58 degrees)
Putter: Odyssey Ai One Double Wide
