Blades Brown became the youngest winner on the PGA Tour in 95 years on Sunday, rallying from seven shots behind with a final-round 63 before beating Ben James on the second hole of a playoff at the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico.

The 19-year-old from Nashville closed with a nine-under 63 at El Cardonal at Diamante to post 23 under par, a four-day total of 265. James, the overnight leader, eagled the par-five 18th to force extra holes, but Brown sealed his first PGA Tour title with a birdie putt on the second sudden-death hole.

At 19 years, five months and 18 days old, Brown is the youngest player to win on the PGA Tour since Charles Kocsis won the Michigan Open in 1931 at the age of 18. He is the fourth-youngest winner in tour history and the first teenager to win on the circuit since Jordan Spieth at the 2013 John Deere Classic.

A seven-shot comeback in Mexico

Brown began the final round seven strokes behind James, who had led after 36 and 54 holes. The teenager made ten birdies in his closing 63, including one on the par-five 18th, to set the clubhouse lead at 23 under.

James then produced an eagle at the last to match him, sending the tournament into a playoff between two of the youngest players on tour. Brown, who was playing in only his 22nd career start on the PGA Tour, held his nerve on the second extra hole to win.

It was the fourth straight year that the winner of this event has shot 63 in the final round, following Erik van Rooyen in 2023, Austin Eckroat in 2024 and Ben Griffin last year.

A rapid rise after turning pro at 17

Brown decided to skip college and turn professional in December 2024 at the age of 17. He spent the past two seasons playing mostly on the Korn Ferry Tour and secured his PGA Tour card by finishing in the top 20 of the Korn Ferry Tour points list.

The son of former WNBA player Rhonda Blades, Brown was a three-time state prep champion in Tennessee. In 2023 he became the youngest medalist in the history of the U.S. Amateur, breaking a record set in 1920.

The win is worth $1.08 million and gives Brown a two-year PGA Tour exemption, which guarantees him a place in the tour's elite Championship Series when its new competitive model begins in 2028. It also secures his place in his first major championship, the 2027 PGA Championship, and lifted him from 95th to 62nd in the world rankings.

What comes next

Brown's victory underlines a changing of the guard on the PGA Tour, with two players aged 23 and under contesting the playoff in Mexico. James, 23, retains full tour status through PGA Tour University despite the defeat.

For Brown, the win caps a remarkable two years since he left school to turn professional, and it puts him firmly on course for a Masters invitation as his world ranking continues to climb. The PGA Tour reported Brown's playoff win in Mexico, and Golf Digest covered his record-breaking victory.