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Scheffler, 18-Year-Old Blades Brown Share American Express Lead After Record 60

The field now turns to the tougher Stadium Course with the 54-hole cut looming Saturday.

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Jan 23, 2026; La Quinta, California, USA; Blades Brown hits his tee shot on the first hole during the second round of The American Express golf tournament at Nicklaus Tournament Course. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Blades Brown gets a hug from his caddie as Brown finishes at the ninth green for a 12-under-par 60 during the second round of the American Express golf event at the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West on Friday, in La Quinta, California.
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Overview

  • World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened his 2026 season bogey-free with rounds of 63 and 64 to reach 17 under through 36 holes.
  • Blades Brown, 18, fired a Nicklaus Tournament Course record 60 and narrowly missed a 59 on his final hole to tie Scheffler at 17 under.
  • Brown became the youngest player on record to shoot 60 or lower on the PGA Tour, according to multiple reports.
  • Si Woo Kim sits one shot back at 16 under after a 65 on the Stadium Course, which is traditionally the most demanding layout in the rotation.
  • Low wind and the three-course setup yielded very low scores, including Andrew Putnam’s 60 at La Quinta, as Brown’s week also featured cross-country travel from a Korn Ferry Tour stop to play on a sponsor exemption.