His name is Miles Russell and his name has been around for some time in the world of golf, although it was last April when his career took a big leap. At 15 years old, he became the youngest player to make a cut on the Korn Ferry Tour (the second American circuit).
He finished in 20th place (shared), meaning he is the youngest golfer to finish in the top 25 of a PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament. This Thursday he makes his debut in the big leagues -PGA Tour- and he does so at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, where he attends as a guest of the sponsor.
So much expectation has not only been aroused by his result at the Korn Ferry; That was confirmation that the boy had something. He is the youngest winner of both the Junior PGA Championship and the Junior PLAYERS. He won the first one with a seven-stroke lead and a cumulative score of 18 under par.
In the Players he went 70-66-71 to win by three at the legendary TPC Sawgrass.
Miles Russell, results
Russell, born in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, has already signed with TaylorMade and Nike. The big brands are already rubbing their hands, although it is very risky to predict how the career of a boy who is still in his training period will develop.
But what has left everyone surprised is that Miles already treats his participation in tournaments as if he were a professional. According to PGATour.com, at the beginning of the month the young talent went to play the course where the Rocket Mortgage is held and also Oakland Hills, home of this year's US Junior Amateur.
The Mexican PGA Tour player Ral Pereda, with whom he shares a coach, has no doubt that we are facing a special boy: "He is a top-level player. We are facing a young Tiger Woods. That child is a prodigy. I am amazed at how has developed as an athlete in such a short time since I have known him," he notes on PGATour.com.
According to Pereda, Miles already has the short game of a tour professional and will soon reach the average swing speed of a PGA player. Russell's life revolves around golf. Without going any further, his day depends entirely on this sport.
If the weather is good in the morning, he practices golf in the morning and in the afternoons he goes to school classes. If it dawns with rain, the order is reversed. Russell is enthusiastic, though: "I don't think he feels about golf as a job because I love it so much." We are already looking forward to seeing it in action.
