Miles Russell Faces Unique Challenge at Detroit Golf Club During PGA Tour Debut
Miles Russell is set to make his PGA Tour debut this week at Detroit Golf Club, but he might have to change his clothes in the parking lot.
Russell, the top-ranked junior golfer in the country, received a sponsor's invite to the Rocket Mortgage Classic. However, as one of his fellow competitors pointed out on Tuesday, the 15-year-old technically isn't old enough to use the locker room at the Donald Ross-designed course.
Willie Mack III, who qualified for the event by winning Monday's John Shippen Invitational, highlighted this issue. During a press conference, Mack was asked about the young phenom and mentioned the club's age requirement.
Q. There's a 15-year-old kid in the field this week in Miles Russell. I'm just curious how you would have handled that situation if that were you at 15 playing in a PGA TOUR event?
WILLIE MACK III: Who knows? I know he's a good golfer. I was talking to Jason I think yesterday about him not even being able to get into the locker room because it says 16 and over. We were joking about that.
While the club’s rule is clear, it’s likely to be overlooked for Russell, who isn’t even old enough to drive himself to the tournament. Despite his age, his golf skills are well beyond his years.
In April, Russell became the youngest golfer ever to make a cut on the Korn Ferry Tour, capturing the attention of the golfing world.
"Hopefully he has fun and doesn't beat me, but does well," said Min Woo Lee about Russell.