Teen Phenom Blades Brown Nearly Makes History at Puerto Rico Open as Bhatia Wins Big at Bay Hill

Two PGA Tour events produced dramatically different stories on Sunday — a stunning comeback at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a teenage star who came within striking distance of history at the Puerto Rico Open.

At Bay Hill, Akshay Bhatia delivered a charge worthy of Arnold Palmer himself.

Meanwhile in Puerto Rico, 18-year-old Blades Brown nearly became the youngest PGA Tour winner in nearly a century before a single disastrous hole derailed his bid.

Bhatia’s Bay Hill comeback

Bhatia appeared out of the tournament early Sunday when he missed a 30-inch par putt that left him five shots behind. But the 24-year-old responded with the kind of fearless play Palmer famously preached.

“You must play boldly to win,” Palmer often said — and Bhatia did exactly that.

He ignited the back nine with four straight birdies, including a 60-foot bomb on the 11th. Suddenly the tournament at Bay Hill was alive.

With three holes to play, Bhatia was two shots back. On the par-5 16th, he launched a towering 6-iron at a tucked pin. The ball nearly dropped for albatross before settling inches away, setting up a short eagle and tying the lead.

The drama carried into the first playoff at Bay Hill since 1999 against Daniel Berger. Berger’s par putt on the first extra hole slid by the cup, leaving Bhatia two putts from inside 30 feet to secure the victory.

He calmly rolled them in to capture his third PGA Tour title — and the biggest yet — at the $20 million signature event.

“If he was up there watching, he’s probably pretty proud of how that finished,” Bhatia said, wearing the tournament’s signature red cardigan.

The victory pushes Bhatia inside the world’s top 20 as the PGA Tour heads toward the Masters.

Blades Brown’s near-history in Puerto Rico

While Bhatia celebrated in Florida, a teenage prodigy was making headlines in Puerto Rico.

Brown entered the final round at Grand Reserve chasing history. At 18, the rising star had a chance to become the youngest PGA Tour winner since 1931.

And for much of Sunday, it looked possible.

Brown held a one-shot lead with six holes to play, showing the poise of a veteran despite turning pro just last year — months after graduating high school.

Then came the 13th hole.

His tee shot found a fairway bunker, and his approach toward a green guarded by water drifted right and splashed into the hazard. After the drop, Brown got aggressive again and ran his wedge over the green. The result: triple bogey.

In the span of minutes, Brown went from leading the tournament to trailing by four.

He regrouped admirably, finishing with a 69 and birdieing the final hole to secure solo third, his first top-10 finish on the PGA Tour.

The title ultimately went to Ricky Castillo, who capitalized on Brown’s stumble. Castillo made back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th holes and closed with a bogey-free 67 to finish at 17-under, one shot ahead of Chandler Blanchet.

Despite the heartbreak, Brown left Puerto Rico with a breakthrough performance and a spot in the Valspar Championship.

For a player still technically a teenager, it was another sign that one of golf’s brightest young stars is already knocking on the door.

And if Sunday proved anything, it’s that Brown might not have to wait long for his first PGA Tour win.