Miles Russell, at 15 years old, became the youngest player to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour
15-year-old Miles Russell of Florida, became the youngest player ever to make the 36 hole cut on the Korn Ferry Tour in America a couple of weeks ago and then 16-year-old Kris Kim from England made the cut last week at the US$ 9.5mn Byron Nelson event on the PGA Tour in a show of teenage talent rarely seen on the most competitive pro tours.
Russell, who broke Tiger Woods’ record as the youngest ever to win the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Player of the Year title, was awarded a sponsors exemption and then carded rounds of 68-66-70-66 to finish 20th at the US$ 1mn Suncoast Classic in Florida on the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour’s developmental tour.
Miles Russell grew up getting autographs from PGA Tour pros between holes 16 and 17 at The Players.
Now, the 15-year-old is the youngest player on record (since 1983) to top-25 on the KFT or PGA Tour. pic.twitter.com/7EhI1QYxEA
— Brentley Romine (@BrentleyGC) April 22, 2024
Back-to-back birdies
Miles Russell improves to 13-under and T14 with seven holes left to play at the LECOM Suncoast Classic. pic.twitter.com/O0ASXIpoyq
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 21, 2024
Following his impressive top-25 finish, Russell earned a coveted spot in the following week’s Korn Ferry tour’s Veritex Bank Championship but missed the cut despite posting excellent rounds of 68-70.
Miles Russell had no idea he made history.
After making the cut in his first pro event at age 15, he wants to keep it going with a top-25 finish. pic.twitter.com/c8QPEEWOOe
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 20, 2024
Following Miles’ amazing showing, Kris Kim, also became the youngest to ever make the cut at the Byron Nelson Classic in Texas, being two months younger than Jordan Spieth was when he made the cut in his home state over a decade ago.
An chip-in eagle at the last for 16-year-old Kris Kim!
A 3-under round in his PGA TOUR debut pic.twitter.com/zdDyHOxAGE
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 2, 2024
Kim is the son of former Korean LPGA player Ji-Hyuh Suh, who now teaches in England.
With both Rusell and Kim boasting stellar junior amateur credentials, it remains to be seen if they decide to play college golf or turn pro early , just as Indian origin Akshay Bhatia did in USA some years ago after being ranked #1 Junior golfer in America.
Of the handful of teenagers who have made the cut in PGA Tour events over the years, only Justin Thomas has gone on to become a big star player. Other early blooming teens have fallen to the wayside and failed to live up to their potential. Time will tell if Russell and Kim fade away or continue upward to play the PGA Tour.
Photo – Golf Magazine