Although Blades Brown was set to play alongside Scottie Scheffler at this year's edition of The American Express, he momentarily set aside the competition on the first tee to applaud the world's top player, albeit accidentally.

Brown is a rising star on the PGA Tour, and the 19-year-old grew up watching the players he’s now competing against.

Bypassing college golf to turn professional, the young player shared a story with Golf Channel's Brentley Romine. He recounted how, during The American Express, the announcer introduced Scheffler as hailing from Dallas. Momentarily losing sight of the fact that they were competing head-to-head in the tournament's final round, Brown instinctively began to applaud.

It took his caddie, Brett Swedberg, to step in and remind him that he was actively competing against the world's top-ranked golfer, rather than just spectating.

“I was on the first tee, and I forgot what order I teed off on, but Scottie, they said, ‘Now on the tee from Dallas, Texas … Scottie Scheffler,’” explained Brown.

“And I started clapping. And Brett looked at me and was like, ‘What? No, no, no, we’re playing against him. “And I go, ‘Sorry, I’m gonna lock in!’” he recalled with a smile.

Entering the final round tied for the lead, the 18-year-old Brown was being pursued by Scheffler at 21 under par, just a single stroke behind Si Woo Kim.

Having posted a course-record 60 on Friday, barely missing a six-foot putt for a 59,he had traveled to La Quinta straight from a Korn Ferry Tour tournament in the Bahamas.

Scheffler ultimately secured a four-stroke victory at 27-under-par to capture his 20th PGA Tour title, sealing the win with a final-round 66. Brown carded two birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey, falling into a tie for 18th place and just falling short of qualifying for the upcoming Farmers Insurance Open.

“I was feeling really good throughout the entire round,” said Brown after stumbling down the leaderboard as Scheffler earned his first trophy of the season.

“I would say one of the coolest things that I learned today was how underrated Scottie Scheffler's short game is.

“I have not, I mean, to see it in person and just to look at kind of the trajectory and the spin, and just the control that he has with his wedges and short game. Obviously his putting is insane too. It was really cool to watch. So I'm definitely going to go work on that.”