TEEN GOLF SENSATION BORN AFTER WHATSAPP LAUNCHED MAKES HISTORY AND SENDS WARNING TO PGA TOUR STARS

Miles Russell made history on Sunday by becoming the youngest player to finish inside the top 25 in a Korn Ferry Tour event.

Russell, 15, is still in his first year of high school but is already impressing as an amateur after finishing in a ten-way tie for 20th at the Lecom Suncoast Classic. No one younger has made the top 25 of a PGA Tour event at least 40 years since 1983.

Merely making the cut was historic for Russell as the youngest to ever do so on the developmental tour. But further records followed with a five-under 66 final round in Florida, and the teenager's top 25 finish also qualified him for next week's Veritex Bank Championship.

Born in 2009, months before WhatsApp came out on the App Store, Russell was making his first professional start at Lakewood National on a sponsor exemption. The teenager targeted a top 25 finish coming into the event, with first and second rounds of 68 and 66 ensuring he comfortably made the cut.

Then, after a 70 on Saturday, Russell soared up the leaderboard during the final round, sitting tied for third at one stage after seven birdies between holes four and 13. He ultimately finished six shots short of the eventual winner, Tim Widing.

Russell's performance also caught the attention of Phil Mickelson on social media. "This is an amazing accomplishment," he posted on X, formerly Twitter.

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"It’s great to see a young lefty playing such incredible golf." The teenager was overjoyed speaking to reporters after the final round. "It was an awesome week. It was a blast," he exclaimed.

"Especially for my first one, you may get a couple of weird looks, like, 'Who's the little kid on the range?' But, you know, everybody was so nice and so helpful with everything.

Russell also expounded on the final round as he climbed the leaderboard. "You're always nervous. So definitely the start of the round [I had nerves], but they kind of relaxed as we got kind of settled in and maybe a little bit more toward the end. But it was good.

"I just try to kind of go with the flow and take it as it comes to me, and I'm trying to just stay cool. I was able to hit some good shots in the right moments."

"When I play well, I think I can compete with some of the better pros, but this week I played well, and I think it kind of showed it a little bit. But good play is always good, and definitely confidence-boosting to finish where we're going to finish today."

Russell will now carry that confidence into the Veritex Bank Championship. He also told reporters during the tournament that he already has another sponsor exemption for November's Butterfield Bermuda Championship on the PGA Tour, the same month he turns 16.

2024-04-22T12:57:34Z dg43tfdfdgfd