This year’s Mexico Open did not deliver the same incredible level of drama we witnessed at Vidanta Vallarta a year ago, thanks to Andrew Novak transforming into prime Tiger Woods, but you can’t complain about a guy going on an absolute heater en route to his first individual title on the PGA Tour.
Blades Brown was in the field in Mexico and finished a respectable T-19, and during the event, an unsubstantiated yet absolutely hysterical rumor about the teenage phenom made the rounds in the golf world. It involves actual swords, knighting, and meetings around a round table.
In New Zealand, our eyes were fortunate enough to get a look at Te Arai Links for the Asia-Pacific Amateur. While the golf course was the main character, looking like a piece of land that could only be found on a planet not named Earth, Fifa Laopakdee went back-to-back, earning a Masters invite for the second consecutive year.
Welcome to Par Talk, a weekly read to get you caught up on all the happenings that took place in professional golf that you should know. Be sure to follow Mark on X @itismarkharris or email him at mark.harris@outkick.com.
Andrew Novak dominates south of the border
Andrew Novak was in the midst of a lackluster 2026 season before arriving in Mexico. The Wofford College grad missed the cut in three of the four majors, didn’t play the weekend at The Players, and managed just two Top 10s in 25 starts if you excluded the team event Zurich Classic.
To say something clicked at the Mexico Open would be disrespectful to his performance.
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After an opening round 67 put him five shots back of the lead, he woke up on Friday and decided that over the next 36 holes he was going to turn into the best putter on the property and essentially not miss a thing.
Novak led the field in strokes gained: putting in both rounds two and three, picking up over 5.6 shots on the greens alone on Friday, posting scores of 61-62. When you shoot 19-under across 36 holes as Novak did, you’re going to separate from the field, which is exactly what happened before ultimately earning a five-shot victory.
Steven Fisk and Kristoffer Ventura both shot final rounds of 63 only to lose by five. That has to be quite the feeling.
Novak, who won the 2025 Zurich Classic alongside teammate Ben Griffin, moves up to 53rd in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. Finishing inside the Top 50 is huge, with those players earning spots in full-field and signature events in 2027.
Blades Brown is a big swords guy, allegedly
When your first name is Blades, you’re destined to play golf at some level. Blades Brown just so happens to ooze so much talent that he decided to skip out on college, turn professional as a teenager, and earn his PGA Tour card before turning 20.
In order to get to the level Brown has climbed to in such fast fashion, one has to have a team around them, and young Mr. Blades allegedly takes the formation of said team very, very seriously.
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Andy Johnson of The Fried Egg has heard a rumor involving Brown and his team, and it may be the greatest thing my 33-year-old ears have ever heard.
During an episode of The Shotgun Start podcast last week, Johnson emphasized that the rumor is unsubstantiated, but that doesn’t make it any less incredible.
“Everybody has their teams and everything in golf, your trainer, coaches, your agents, your parents, and I’m hearing that Blades has an interesting aspect to his team,” Johnson began. “In order to become a part of the team, you have to get knighted, and you’re given a sword. So everyone on his team, whether it’s his swing coach, his personal trainer, his agent, they have swords, and they commence and discuss Blades Brown business around a round table.
“Mike Sposa is his equipment guy for Callaway, and he was given a sword, and you become knighted to become part of Blades’ team.”
Johnson went on to say that it is Brown’s parents doing the alleged knighting, which makes it a little less awkward, yet still objectively hilarious.
Blades handing out actual blades to his support staff is the type of golf content we live for.
Fifa Laopakdee gets another go at Augusta National
The Asia-Pacific Amateur may have moved from Dubai to New Zealand, but the winner remained the same.
Thailand’s Fifa Laopakdee defended his title at one of the most prestigious amateur events in the world at Te Arai, winning by three shots after a wildly impressive 63 to begin the tournament.
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With the victory, Laopakdee earned a spot in both the 2027 Masters and 2027 Open Championship at St. Andrews; not exactly the worst two events to add to the schedule for a college player at Arizona State.
“I feel like I’m more proud of myself this year because I never stopped believing in myself, and even though I had a tough year,” Laopakdee said after his victory. “I literally didn’t win a single thing since March. I just keep telling myself that I’ve still got it.
“Shout out to my friends, my family, my coaches, my teammates, that still believe in me and push me hard every day. This win means a lot because I’m able to prove to myself that I’ve still got it.”
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Laopakdee missed the cut at both the Masters and Open a year ago, and it will be interesting to see how another year and another impressive win under his belt suits him on the biggest of stages his second time around.
