Teenage golf prodigy Miles Russell will tee it up with the big boys later this month at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. Russell, 15, is the youngest player to ever finish in the Top 25 on either the Korn Ferry or PGA Tours since 1983 when modern record keeping began.
Russell posted a 5-under 66 in the final round of the LECOM Sun Coast Classic back in April to finish T-20 and add his name to the record books. This remarkable finish also earned Miles Russell a sponsors exemption into the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic.
How will he fare in the “Motor City?”
Miles Russell Joins Golf Legends with Early Success
Russell, a high-school freshman from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, is no stranger to breaking records. Along with being the youngest player to ever finish in the Top 25 in a tour event, he is also the youngest to ever make the cut. The record had previously been held by Tony Finau’s younger brother, Gripper, who made a Korn Ferry Tour cut when he was 16.
Miles Russell was also named the American Junior Golf Association Player of the Year in 2023, breaking the age record previously set by the GOAT himself, Tiger Woods. Russell also won the Junior PGA Championship and Junior Players Championship and was a member of the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team.
Rocket Mortgage Classic Offers Sponsor’s Exemption
In light of all his amazing accomplishments recently, the Rocket Mortgage Classic has awarded Miles Russell one of only four sponsors exemptions for this year’s tournament. After the announcement yesterday, Russell released a statement expressing his excitement and gratitude:
“I am thankful to Rocket Mortgage for giving me the opportunity to make my PGA Tour debut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. 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.”
James Langwell, the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s Executive Director, echoed Russell’s sentiments, saying:
“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.”
Russell will Face Strong Field at Rocket Mortgage Classic
While the entire field for the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic has not been finalized, quite a few big names have already announced that they will be competing. Among these will of course be Rickie Fowler, the perennial fan favorite and defending champion at this event.
Also in the field will be rising stars Tom Kim and Will Zalatoris, along with Min Woo Lee, Nick Dunlap, and 2012 U.S. Open winner Webb Simpson. Other big names will surely be committing to play in the Rocket Mortgage Classic over the next weeks as well.
For 15-year-old Miles Russell, this will surely be a dream come true. And considering how many accolades he has already achieved, we may be watching him rocket up the leaderboard in Detroit later this month.
About the Author
Andrew Lazzara is a New Orleans native, lifelong Saints fan, golfer, and father of three. He writes for Total Apex about sports, entertainment, and gaming. Andrew writes for Total Apex Sports about the Saints, the NFL in general, and the world of golf. For Total Apex Entertainment, he writes about movies, TV, music, and entertainment news. Andrew writes for Total Apex Gaming about the gaming industry, new technology, and game strategy. Follow Andrew on X @Andrew_Lazzara and to see more of his work, click here.
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