Blades Brown Reflects on Full-Circle Moment Competing With Brandt Snedeker at the $9.1 M PGA Tour Event

https://twitter.com/MintzGolf/status/2034775862990840318

But there was one instance that topped it all. 

Brown recollected an instance from the Sneds Tour when he was nine years old. He was over an eight-foot par putt when he spotted Snedeker through his peripheral vision during his preshot routine. Luckily, he made the putt and likely impressed the FedEx Cup champion. 

Now, at the 2026 Valspar Championship, things have turned a full circle, as Brown watched Snedeker score a six-under 65 in the first round and land in the second spot on the leaderboard. But what’s it like for the teenager to compete alongside Snedeker?

“It’s awesome,” Brown claimed. “He’s what, 45? And I’m 18. So every time I see him in the hallway or on the range I give him a little fist bump and we talk for a second. But he’s just one of the most positive guys ever. He has been such an influential and just a big inspiration of my golf career and I’m really excited to see he’s playing well.”

But there was still one unanswered question.

Do Blades Brown and Brandt Snedeker Interact if They Spot Each Other on the Range?

As the conversation went on, Brown couldn’t stop fan-boying for Brandt Snedeker. But are there any ‘needles’ between the two?

“I don’t know if he’ll like this, but his ball speed’s probably going to be what? 165,” Brown said. “And I’m pushing maybe 180. So, I don’t know, we just kind of go after it sometimes… Sneds is awesome. I cannot say enough positive things about him. He’s just an awesome guy.”

Despite the difference in their chase, Snedeker is much closer (margin of one shot) to the leader, Sungjae Im, at the Valspar Championship.

Meanwhile, Brown is tied for 17th position. But it’s still the first round. There’s a lot more action coming up. Maybe we’ll see Brown surpassing Snedeker by the weekend.