Blades Brown, the 2024 Rolex Junior Player of the Year from Nashville, Tennessee, has earned an exemption into the 2025 Butterfield Bermuda Championship. The 18-year-old secured the prestigious American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) award following a remarkable season highlighted by a third-place finish at the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship, tied for third at the RLX Ralph Lauren Junior Classic and a runner-up finish at The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by Rolex.
“Being named the 2024 AJGA Player of the Year is one of the greatest highlights of my junior golf career — a moment I’ll always carry with me,” said Blades Brown. “From the moment I learned I would be receiving the award, the opportunity to play in Bermuda has been at the forefront of my mind. I have heard nothing but incredible things about the tournament, the staff, the course, and the entire experience. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play golf in paradise? I’m truly grateful to the AJGA and the Butterfield Bermuda Championship for extending this invitation. It’s an honor to compete in 2025, and I sincerely hope it won’t be my last time teeing it up in Bermuda.”
The Butterfield Bermuda Championship continues its partnership with the AJGA, offering an annual exemption to the Rolex Junior Player of the Year. This collaboration provides a direct pathway for top junior golfers to compete at the professional level.
“We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with the AJGA and to welcome Blades Brown to Bermuda,” said Danielle Carrera, Tournament Director of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. “Blades represents everything this exemption is meant to highlight — exceptional talent, dedication, and maturity beyond his years. His rapid rise through the ranks is inspiring, and we’re thrilled that Bermuda will be part of his journey. Fans can look forward to watching one of golf’s brightest young stars compete on one of the most breathtaking stages in the sport.”
In a historic milestone for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Blades Brown, the 2024 Rolex Junior Player of the Year, will be the first recipient to accept the tournament’s exemption as a professional rather than a junior golfer.
Brown’s 2024 season was exceptional. In addition to his standout AJGA performances, he made his PGA TOUR debut as an amateur at the Myrtle Beach Classic, finishing an impressive T26. His 2025 season marked a significant transition as he turned professional in December 2024, forgoing college golf to pursue a full-time career on the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour. His professional debut came at The American Express in January 2025, where he carded an 8-under-par 64 in the second round, the third-lowest score by a player under 18 in a PGA TOUR event in the past 40 years. He has played in six PGA TOUR events and eight Korn Ferry Tour events since his pro debut, with his best finish coming in April at the Veritex Bank Championship, where he finished T2.
The AJGA has hosted the Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championship at Port Royal Golf Course since 2023. The 2025 event, held from January 16-19, featured 54 holes of stroke-play and welcomed top junior golfers from around the world. The tournament included three Bermuda natives, seven countries and 17 states represented. Phillips Swift of Macon, Georgia and Kayla Black of Ontario, Canada both claimed their first AJGA wins at the 2025 event.
The 2025 Butterfield Bermuda Championship, part of the FedExCup Fall, is scheduled for November 13-16 at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. The event promises to deliver a thrilling showcase of talent, with Brown joining a field of established professionals and rising stars.
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