Power eight behind as teenager Brown caresses 59 to share American Express lead with Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on Sunday, May 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America)

Séamus Power had another solid day at The American Express but he has his work cut out to close an eight-shot gap on world number one Scottie Scheffler and teenage sensation Blades Brown in California.

The West Waterford man (38) shot a four under 68 at La Quinta Country Club at PGA West to share 48th on nine-under at the halfway mark.

But his five-birdie effort looked almost pedestrian by comparison with Scheffler, who shot an eight-under 64 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course and especially with Brown, who shaved the hole with a six-footer at his final hole there (the ninth) for a 59.

A Korn Ferry Tour player who turned professional just last year, Brown won't graduate from high school until later this spring.

He needed only one birdie over the final three holes on the easiest of the three courses in the rotation to break 60, but missed the crucial putt on the right.

“I got a great read off David Ford,” Brown said. “He dripped it in there, and it went right dead centre. 

“So I was thinking, okay, maybe just a little outside right edge. Unfortunately, it didn't break, but it's all right. I'm not worried about it.”

The teenager is playing on a sponsor’s exemption, having arrived from a Korn Ferry Tour event in the Bahamas on a private jet voucher he won for a top-50 finish in the ONEFlight Myrtle Beach Classic last year.

He only arrived at PGA West at 8 pm on the eve of the tournament, and after opening with a 67 at La Quinta Country Club, he’s tied for the lead with Scheffler and on course for a Sunday tee time with the world number one.

“I think that would be awesome,” said Brown, who admitted a 59 crossed his mind when he made the turn in eight-under 28 and raced to 12-under with four birdies in his first six holes on the back nine. 

“Scottie is an unbelievable golfer. I'd try to learn from him as much as I can about the way he plays the golf course. 

“There’s a lot of strategy in his game, and he's obviously an unbelievable ball-striker. So it's really cool watching him play some golf.”

Scheffler and Brown lead by a shot on 17-under from Korea’s Si Woo Kim, who shot a seven-under 65 on the Stadium Course.

As for Power, who will also play next week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, he's tied for 48th on nine under heading to the easier Nicklaus Tournament Course today

Scheffler wasn’t quite as sharp as he was for his opening 63, but he was still pleased to find himself in a tie for the lead.

“Feeling good,” the Texan said. “I feel like my game's in a good spot, excited to get out there tomorrow and hopefully put together another solid round.”

As Brown was finishing, Scheffler added, “These kids coming out, they know they got to come out and make some birdies. 

“I think when you're coming out young, you don't have as much scar tissue as the guys that are a little bit more seasoned, and you just come out, and if you want to make a name for yourself, you've got to put up some good scores.

“It sounds like an 18-year-old shooting 59 is a pretty good start to his career there.”