PGA Tour sensation plays rock, paper, scissors with fan ahead of battle with Scottie Scheffler – and Darth Vader

The force is definitely with PGA Tour teenage sensation Blades Brown as he hopes to take down emperor Scottie Scheffler today.

Brown, who turns 19 years old this May, is one shot behind Si Woo Kim and tied with world number one Scheffler going into the final day of The American Express at La Quinta.

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The teenager is looking to become the youngest player since 1931 to claim victory on the PGA Tour.

Playing on a sponsors exemption in California this week, Brown shot a stunning second round 60 to vault himself into contention and followed that up with 68 on Saturday to be in the final group on Sunday.

He now faces the daunting prospect of facing off against Scheffler for glory.

But if he’s feeling any nerves, they haven’t been on show with Brown spotted playing ‘rock, paper, scissors’ with a fan following his tee shot on the par 3 17th.

The nice moment with his new supporters came in the middle of a stretch of three closing birdies over the final trio of holes to head to the clubhouse at 21-under.

South Korea’s Kim is one ahead while four-time major champion Scheffler is right in the mix yet again too.

On his first professional start since August, Scheffler has shown no signs of rust, being as consistent as ever to also sit at 21-under.

The 29-year-old has lorded over everyone else in the golfing world in recent years and will look to claim his 20th PGA Tour win on Sunday.

Many players may view him as the evil emperor to their hopes of victory and even Darth Vader was on hand to support him at La Quinta.

As Scheffler sunk four birdies in five holes around the turn on Saturday, the legendary Star Wars villain was snapped in the galleries behind him.

Brown will be hoping to channel his inner Luke Skywalker and try to topple Scheffler’s all-encompassing empire come Sunday evening…

The youngster said: “I’m 18 years old playing on the PGA Tour. How awesome is that? 

“I finished high school about two weeks ago, so it’s nice to have that burden off my back. I’m looking forward to Sunday.”

Scheffler added: “Felt I could have hit a few more fairways on the back nine, give myself some more opportunities.

“Even the fairways I was missing, I was missing on the correct side. And it was nice, even though I wasn’t hitting it my best on the back, but to keep it in play and give myself some opportunities.

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“I think the hardest part about these tests where you have to shoot so low is you can only shoot so many under par in a round of golf.

“The easier tests, where the scores are crazy low, if you start falling behind it’s a lot harder to keep up, so you have to keep pace out here.”

Kim, Brown and Scheffler will tee off at 10:35am local time (8:30pm GMT) for their final round at the Pete Dye Stadium Course in La Quinta.

Scheffler is eyeing his 25th career victory following his six-win year in 2025.

The brilliant American claimed Open Championship and PGA Championship glory last year while also winning four PGA Tour events.

He’s looking to hit the ground running this season ahead of trying to claim his third Players title in March and his third Masters win the following month.

And it could be a historic year for Scheffler as he strives to join Rory McIlroy in completing the Career Grand Slam with glory at the US Open at Shinnecock Hills in June.