Blades Brown, a student in high school and the top-ranked golfer in the Class of 2026 declared his intention to become a professional on Tuesday.

Brown stated in a long Instagram post that he will not be playing collegiate golf and that he will debut on the PGA Tour in January at The American Express in La Quinta, California. "I am ready to begin the next chapter of my golf career and will be competing as a professional in 2025," he stated.

"I don't take this decision lightly, and I've been considering all of my alternatives for the past few months before settling on what I know is best for me. I am focused on the future and starting my professional career off strong, even if I am proud of the achievements of my amateur career."

Last summer, Nashville native Brown became one of just three players to earn a medal in both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior championships, along with Tiger Woods and Bobby Clampett.

According to a July story in The Tennessean, Brown will now take online classes to accommodate his golf schedule instead of continuing to attend Brentwood Academy.