“If I say ‘go to college,’ I would be a hypocrite” – Tony Finau gets candid about 17-year-old ‘kid’ Blades Brown turning pro

Tony Finau eschewed going to college and turned pro at the age of 17 in 2007. Nearly two decades later, the 35-year-old is set to tee off with 17-year-old Blades Brown at The American Express 2025 this weekend. Ahead of the contest, the ace golfer revealed that the young golfer has an “incredible advantage” by turning pro at his age.

Finau laughed when asked by a reporter whether he’d ask Brown to ‘go to college’ instead of turning pro at 17. The six-time PGA Tour winner admitted that he’d be a ‘hypocrite’ if he asked the teenager to not turn pro. He recalled his own decision to turn pro at 17 and spending years bouncing around mini-tours to earn spots on the DP World Tour, the developmental Korn Ferry Tour and finally, the PGA Tour.

The Utah native lauded Brown’s ability to qualify for the senior circuit at his age. Finau said that he “didn't have the skills that this kid has” at his age.

Speaking to the media about Blades Brown ahead of The American Express 2025 start, Tony Finau said, as quoted by ASAP Sports:

“Well, if I did say, ‘go to college,’ I would be a hypocrite, because I didn't go to college (laughing). So, being someone that turned pro at 17 years old, which I did, I don't have, I didn't have the talent or I guess I didn't have the skills that this kid has, from what I've seen. But, yeah, I would say the same thing, you know, it's an incredible advantage, I feel like, to be young and playing on the PGA Tour at 17 years old, having an opportunity to play.

It was an advantage I feel like for me, I was able to see the best players in the world up close, and I went through years where, some of the mini-tour years, where I struggled, but I knew where my game could get, and I knew where I needed to get because I had already had the experience of playing with some of the best players in the world.”

Finau concluded his comments by wishing 'kid' Blades Brown the best and stated that there’s a “lot of great golf” in the youngster.

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Blades Brown makes pro debut at The American Express

Blades Brown surprised many by making the cut in his PGA Tour debut at last year’s Myrtle Beach Classic. The teenager closed in rounds of 66-69 for a T26 finish, beating several proven circuit veterans. Last week, the 17-year-old announced his decision to turn professional and is currently making his pro debut at The American Express.

Having enjoyed an illustrious amateur career, the Nashville, Tennessee native entered the weekend event’s field on a sponsor exemption.

Blades Brown said on Tuesday, ahead of The American Express, as quoted by PGA TOUR:

“I’m just thankful and grateful… I'm so pumped. When I was playing (last year’s) Myrtle Beach Classic for my first (PGA Tour) event, I cannot put into words how I was feeling on that first tee, and ever since then I've been itching to get back out there. So, I'm really pumped to be able to play The American Express this week.”

It is pertinent to note that Blades Brown, who earned stroke-play medalist honors at the 2023 US Amateur at the age of 16, stated that he drew inspiration from last year’s The American Express champion Nick Dunlap. The latter became the first amateur in 31 years to win on Tour, at the age of 20.