THE MODERATOR: Opening round, 66. How would assess your round?
BLADES BROWN: I thought it was great. I'm happy to be back playing the Myrtle Beach Classic. I love this golf course. It's so cool. Yeah, I played really solid today. Got off kind of slow, but started to settle down on the back nine and made a few birdies.
THE MODERATOR: Second start here. It's not very often where you're at a place where you've played before. How nice is it to have that comfort?
BLADES BROWN: It was awesome. I didn't have to take all these extra notes for the golf course. Just having almost that home course advantage, if you know what I mean. It's nice to be able to not have to -- or it's nice to be able to look at a golf ball and be, like, Oh, I've played a tournament course like this before. I was really happy to be back here in Myrtle Beach.
THE MODERATOR: You look back from a year ago. What were the big takeaways last year? How much has changed since you were last here?
BLADES BROWN: Each event that I play in, I feel like I'm exponentially so much better. When I was thinking about Myrtle Beach or playing in this event again, I was, like, This is great. I get to play in a tournament for the first time that I've played in the past. I was really happy to finish with a minus-5 today.
Q. Last year you were kind of a fan favorite. I don't know if you felt that. Have you noticed that you've got a great amount of support out there again this year?
BLADES BROWN: It's so cool to see the fans. After a make a putt, everybody just goes to the next tee box, and the guys still have to finish. I mean, I kind of feed off their energy.
It's really cool because on the PGA TOUR if you hit it close, you get a lot of round of applause. So if I'm hitting it from the fairway, and I don't know if it's going to be good or not and all of a sudden you hear applause, you're, like, All right, that's good, that's good.
I really enjoy it out there, and I can't wait for tomorrow.
Q. You don't get that in junior tournaments much?
BLADES BROWN: Not very much.
Q. Carrying your own bag and all?
BLADES BROWN: Yes, sir.
Q. If you can explain your status, what you are trying to get accomplished both on the PGA TOUR and the Korn Ferry TOUR, how do you determine what events to play in, if you are given opportunities? Just kind of go through that, if you could.
BLADES BROWN: Yeah, I'm fortunate enough to where I have a lot of really awesome people around me. So they make it really easy for me to just go out and play golf. If I just hit some fairways, hit some greens, and make some putts, everything will take care of itself.
Sportfive has been an awesome agency that I've been able to work with, and they know so much about just the PGA TOUR. They have led me in the right direction. They have awesome people there.
Then Callaway provides me with the equipment that just makes it so much easier to hit the fairway.
Q. Can you explain, though, about when you choose to play? I believe you turned down an opportunity to play in the CJ last week to play in the Korn Ferry. Can you explain I guess what you're trying to get accomplished with the opportunities that you have, being 17, about to turn 18?
BLADES BROWN: Yeah, I think just getting status. Ideally that would be on the PGA TOUR, but if that means I've got to -- I'm really close to getting Korn Ferry TOUR status. I think that would be a great place to start.
It's just having a place to play. You know, I thought it was cool to see Tom Kim on the range today. He absolutely stripes it, but yeah, if I can get Korn Ferry TOUR status, I think that's step one. Obviously if we get the PGA TOUR status, I think that's even better, but I'm willing to grind it out on the Korn Ferry TOUR, make some birdies there, and hopefully be on the PGA TOUR pretty soon.
Q. You tend to have a very upbeat, jovial approach to not just golf, but it seems like life. Where does that come from? How important is that for you day-to-day and also in golf?
BLADES BROWN: I think it's just perspective. I really enjoy playing golf for a living. I know that there are a lot of other -- there are other jobs that aren't as awesome as this one, but I'm just so blessed to be in the position that I am.
Actually the scorer today or the guy that was carrying around the -- what do you call that?
Q. The walking scores.
BLADES BROWN: He had Downs syndrome. His name was Cam. He was awesome. He was one of the most positive people I've ever seen.
There's a lot worse things that getting mad at a golf shot and just beating up yourself. When you look at Cam, and he's obviously not as fortunate as you are, but just having that mindset, I know that I'm very, very blessed to be in the position that I am.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports