Miles Russell, 15, ready for TOUR-sanctioned debut at LECOM Suncoast Classic

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Miles Russell is too young for a driver’s license, but he outdrove his playing partners with ease Tuesday at the LECOM Suncoast Classic.

Russell, the world’s top-ranked junior golfer, will make his PGA TOUR-sanctioned debut this week on a sponsor exemption, roughly a four-hour drive from his hometown of Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

Russell, 15, is a high-school freshman who began online schooling in eighth grade. The smooth-swinging left-hander got ahead on coursework in recent days (classes include geometry, Earth science, world history and geography) so he can focus on competing at Lakewood National Golf Club’s Commander course. This isn’t a ceremonial start, as Russell has displayed high-end talent and skill across a schedule of big-time junior golf events. He surpassed Tiger Woods last fall as the youngest AJGA Boys Junior Player of the Year, and he nearly Monday qualified for the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open last month – falling in a playoff for the final spot.

A junior star’s first TOUR-sanctioned start becomes a time capsule in future years. Jordan Spieth finished T16 at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson in 2010 (at age 16), and a 17-year-old Scottie Scheffler finished T22 at the same event four years later. Both, like Russell, are past AJGA Players of the Year and made their TOUR-sanctioned debut in their home state. The youthful energy radiates across time, and Russell looks forward to a similar experience this week in Florida.

“I don’t know what to expect, but I’d love to make the cut and who knows, maybe have a good weekend and see where it puts me,” Russell said Tuesday.

Russell was introduced to golf at age 2 by his dad and grandpa, “whacking it around the house … and it’s been history ever since,” he said. “Took me out to the course and went through a bucket of balls in 3 minutes, and it was just fun.”

Russell played baseball and soccer in his formative years, but he eased those sports back to focus on golf – he still enjoys some pickleball and tennis at times, but golf is his purest sporting love. He first attended THE PLAYERS Championship at age 2 (TPC Sawgrass is just 10 minutes from home) and said he’s attended that event as a fan each year since.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to do it," Russell said of eventually pursuing professional golf. "To have the chance to do it would be even cooler, and then to be able to do it would be awesome. I think it would just be cool to do something I love, and there’s not much more I love than this.”

His resume suggests he’s poised to do just that.

Russell was named the 2023 AJGA Player of the Year on Nov. 2 (a day after turning 15) in a year that included winning the Junior PGA Championship (by seven strokes), Junior PLAYERS Championship (carding a second-round 66 at TPC Sawgrass’ PLAYERS Stadium Course, en route to becoming the event’s youngest winner) and representing the United States at the Junior Ryder Cup.

Russell has worked with instructor Ramon Bescansa, whom he describes as both a swing coach and a skills coach, since age 6 or 7. Bescansa, a former Korn Ferry Tour member, will caddie for his student in his Korn Ferry Tour debut.

When asked about TOUR player comparisons that come to mind, Bescansa mentioned reigning Open champion Brian Harman, noting their elite hands, short game and intuition.

“He was already incredible when I first started working with him,” Bescansa said of Russell. “He had a golf IQ that’s not normal for such a young age. It’s been so much fun. I was able to not only help him with his swing, but teaching him how to play golf, play all the shots; he already had a huge understanding and he was like a sponge, a lot of teaching was done with him and a club, and try to do it.”

Russell says he’s more of a feel player than technical, and his instructor concurs. Bescansa said a large part of their work relates to tempo and being synced up. That will become especially paramount as Russell’s body continues to change.

“He’s only 15 and he’s still growing; every time I see him, he’s hitting it farther,” said Bescansa, noting that Russell has reached 112-113 mph of swing speed (which will likely increase in future years).

Russell made waves in the professional golf sphere by narrowly missing at Puerto Rico Open’s Monday qualifier, as he made bogey at No. 18 before falling in a 4-for-1 playoff won by Korn Ferry Tour member Evan Harmeling. (Harmeling proceeded to top-10 in Puerto Rico, his first TOUR start, to earn a spot in the Valspar Championship.)

In a twist, Russell and Harmeling often compete in chipping competitions around their hometown Atlantic Beach Country Club – Russell also often tests his skills against TOUR pros Vince Covello, Raul Pereda, Russell Knox, Philip Knowles and others. Being around professional golfers has accelerated Russell’s development into a world-class junior player, concurred Russell and his instructor, befitting of Russell’s “sponge” ethos.

That was also the case Tuesday, when Russell played an 18-hole practice round with veteran pros Roberto Diaz, Sam Saunders and Rob Oppenheim – who finished runner-up at the Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Country Club earlier this month. (After being informed that Russell was the No. 1-ranked junior, Oppenheim quipped that if he wasn’t No. 1, that could foreshadow trouble for veteran pros at large.) Those three have combined for 907 starts between the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour.

Russell might embody the game’s future, but his veteran playing partners didn’t shy away from offering instruction in the present. On the par-4 11th tee, the group discussed how the hole might play in certain wind directions and various angles to consider on the short par 4 that could become drivable on a downwind day. As they strode up the fairway, Diaz shared nuances and a perspective accrued through a 15-year pro career.

“These guys have been great,” Russell said. “Certainly watching what they’ve doing; asked them some questions … they’ve kind of been showing me some secrets.”

Russell also spent some time at THE PLAYERS last month with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, whom he said “was such a nice guy and such a great guy.” Scheffler famously debuted at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson in 2014, finishing T22 with his sister Callie on the bag – and making a hole-in-one in the third round.

“Scheffler sounded like a PGA TOUR veteran Sunday, analyzing his experience and making a mental checklist of everything he wants to fix,” wrote ESPN at the time.

Russell too sounded like a veteran Tuesday discussing his week ahead, his quiet confidence backed up by his laundry list of accomplishments. The No. 1 junior wasn’t in the business of making bold proclamations, but he projected a sense of expectation to compete this week. When asked about highlight golf moments so far, he mentioned the Junior Ryder Cup and holing out on the 72nd hole at the Junior PGA Championship, but also …

“Maybe we’ll make one this week,” he said after completing Tuesday’s practice round, as he headed to the range for some further work. “Who knows?”