Blades Brown, the top-ranked golfer in the class of 2026, announced Tuesday that he is turning pro.
In one long post on InstagramBrown said he will not play college golf and will make his PGA Tour debut in January at The American Express in La Quinta, California.
“I am ready to start the next chapter of my golf career and will compete as a professional in 2025,” he wrote.
“This is not a decision I take lightly, and I have weighed all possible options over the past few months before deciding what was best for me. While I am proud of the achievements of my amateur career, I am focused on the future and off to a strong start in my professional career.”
Brown, from Nashville, joined Tiger Woods and Bobby Clampett last summer as the only players to medal in both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior competitions.
In 2023, Brown became the youngest medalist in a U.S. Amateur and the youngest since 18-year-old Bobby Jones in 1920.
Playing in one PGA Tour event this year under a sponsor exemption, Brown finished 10 under par and tied for 26th at the Myrtle Beach Classic in May.
He failed to make it out of PGA Tour qualifying school this fall, but he already has some sponsorship waivers lined up for 2025, Yahoo Sports reported.
In July, The Tennessean reported that Brown would no longer attend Brentwood Academy and would take online courses that would fit into his golf schedule.