Miles Russell, one of the most decorated junior golfers in the game today, is set to make his PGA TOUR debut this month after receiving a sponsor exemption into the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
The tournament’s executive director Jason Langwell made an announcement with the news on June 3rd writing, “The Rocket Mortgage Classic is known as a tournament where ‘future stars start,’ and we’re thrilled to have Miles make his PGA TOUR debut here and add to that legacy. He has proved with his many accomplishments at such a young age that he belongs, and we are excited to see Miles compete alongside the world’s best golfers here at Detroit Golf Club” (via Rocket Mortgage Classic).
Russell will be one of the youngest golfers who have made their debut on the PGA TOUR. Michelle Wie West holds the record for youngest player making their professional debut when she received her sponsor exemption to play in the 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii; West was just 14 years, three months, and four days old, becoming the fourth woman to play a TOUR event.
This year though, Russell is not alone when it comes to teenagers debuting in TOUR events. Kris Kim, 16, became the fifth youngest player to make the cut with his performance at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson back in May. 16 year old Blades Brown also competed in a professional event at the Myrtle Beach Classic a week after The CJ Cup.
Russell, a freshman in high school, became the youngest player to make the cut in the Korn Ferry Tour’s 35 year history, when in April he finished 20th at the LECOM Suncoast Classic. The fifteen year old is also the youngest player to ever be named the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Rolex Player of the Year, beating out Tiger Woods, who previously held the record for 32 years, by 10 months and a day. He won the Junior PGA Championship and Junior Players Championship in September, setting another record as the youngest to ever win both events and earning a spot in the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team. The Jacksonville, Florida native went on to be named to the first United States Golf Association (USGA) Junior National team.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic takes place annually at the Detroit Golf Club and will be played this year from June 27th to the 30th. The event made history in 2019 as the first PGA TOUR event ever held in the city of Detroit. The Rocket Mortgage classic continues to leave a positive mark on the city and its residents through its multi-year “Changing the Course” campaign, which was established in 2020 and aims to provide digital accessibility to all Detroit residents. The tournament was also the most awarded event in the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season, receiving recognition as the “Best Special Event”, “Best Tournament Sales”, and for its diversity and inclusion initiatives, being honored with the first “Fair Way Award”; the event received the award again in 2023.
Congratulations to Miles Russell as he continues to do incredible things in his young career and good luck to all players competing.
Photo Credit: USGA/James Gilbert
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