McKINNEY, Texas — 19-year-old Blaze Brown tied for 14th at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Sunday, earning him an unrestricted sponsor exemption for the remainder of the PGA Tour season.
Brown needed to finish at least 21st solo to qualify for the so-called special provisional membership. In the final round at TPC Craig Ranch, he shot a 4-under 67 and finished at 18 under.
Brown, who graduated from high school in January, was in the final group for “American Express” that same month, along with Scottie Scheffler and Kim Si-woo. He was slow on the back nine and tied for 18th.
Brown, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, also led the back nine at the Puerto Rico Open, but made a triple bogey from the water and finished third.
Brown, whose mother, Rhonda Brees, played in the WNBA after turning pro last year, is 13th in Korn Ferry Tour points and will earn a PGA Tour card next year if she finishes in the top 20.
There are eight PGA Tour events that Brown could play, including the Korn Ferry schedule. Perhaps he will do both.
“I know my route to the PGA Tour is a very unusual route,” Brown said after finishing Nelson. “That’s mostly because of my parents. They were my biggest supporters. (My dad) probably missed a couple of events in my life. And whenever I didn’t believe in myself, he believed in me.”
