Teenage phenom to make PGA Tour debut this month

Teenage phenom Miles Russell will make his PGA Tour debut this summer.

Russell, a 15-year-old out of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, finished T-20 at the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic in late April, becoming the youngest player to finish inside the top 25 in a PGA Tour or Korn Ferry Tour event. Russell will now get a chance to replicate that feat at golf’s highest level, receiving a sponsor’s exemption into the Rocket Mortgage Classic, which will be played at Detroit Golf Club later this month.

“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,” said Jason Langwell, executive director of the Rocket Mortgage Classic. “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.”

Added Russell: “Ever since I first started playing golf, my dream has been to compete on the PGA Tour and test my game against the best players, and I’m looking forward to making the most of the experience later this month.”

Russell is no stranger to junior golf circles. He’s the reigning AJGA Player of the Year after capturing the Junior Players Championship and Junior PGA Championship (the latter by seven shots). He also competed at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Veritex Bank Championship in April, where he missed the cut.

Russell will become one of the youngest players to compete in PGA Tour history. Michelle Wie West owns the record at 14 years, three months and four days with her appearance at the 2004 Sony Open while Guan Tianlang holds the mark for the youngest to make the cut in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event, doing so at 14 years and five months at the 2013 Masters. The tour has already seen two 16-year-olds make the cut in tour-sanctioned events this year, with Kris Kim doing so at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and Blades Brown making the weekend at the Myrtle Beach Classic.

The Rocket Mortgage Classic begins June 27. Rickie Fowler is the defending champ.