Fires 9-under 63 in final round of WWT Championship

Ben James eagles 18 to force playoff, falls short on second extra hole

Blaze Brown poses with the trophy after winning the PGA Tour World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Monday (Korean Standard Time). Brown overcame a seven-stroke deficit and won in a playoff to claim his first PGA Tour title, becoming the fourth-youngest winner in tour history. [Getty Images]
Blaze Brown poses with the trophy after winning the PGA Tour World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Monday (Korean Standard Time). Brown overcame a seven-stroke deficit and won in a playoff to claim his first PGA Tour title, becoming the fourth-youngest winner in tour history. [Getty Images]

Nineteen-year-old Blaze Brown of the United States staged a stunning final-round comeback, erasing a seven-stroke deficit to win his first PGA Tour title.

Brown carded 10 birdies and one bogey for a 9-under-par 63 in the final round of the PGA Tour World Wide Technology Championship — purse $6 million — at El Cardonal at Diamante (par 72) in Los Cabos, Mexico, on Monday (Korean Standard Time).

Brown finished at 23-under-par 265, then birdied the second playoff hole to lift the trophy after finishing level with fellow American Ben James. His winner's share came to $1.08 million.

Brown had entered the day tied for ninth, seven strokes behind leader James. He clawed back four shots on the front nine with five birdies and a bogey, then added five more birdies on the back nine. A birdie on the par-5 18th hole got him to 23 under and into the clubhouse first.

James, who had led by seven through 54 holes, traded four birdies for four bogeys on the final day and could not gain ground. He appeared set to surrender the lead he had built, but a dramatic eagle on the 18th brought him level at 23 under and sent the contest to a playoff.

Both players birdied the 18th in the first playoff hole. In the second, Brown stuck his third shot to within about 1.5 meters of the cup and converted the birdie putt. James missed his birdie attempt from roughly 2.1 meters and had to settle for runner-up.

Blaze Brown (left) and Ben James shake hands on the 18th green during the playoff of the PGA Tour World Wide Technology Championship final round at El Cardonal at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Monday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]
Blaze Brown (left) and Ben James shake hands on the 18th green during the playoff of the PGA Tour World Wide Technology Championship final round at El Cardonal at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Monday (Korean Standard Time). [Getty Images]

At 19 years, five months and 18 days old, Brown became the fourth-youngest winner in PGA Tour history. The son of former WNBA player Rhonda Brown, he had previously made his mark as the youngest stroke-play medalist at the 2023 US Amateur Championship.

Brown turned professional in 2025 and had already secured his PGA Tour card for the 2027 season through his Korn Ferry Tour results this year. The victory extended his playing privileges through 2028.

Korean American Michael Kim shot a final-round 8-under 64 to finish alone in third at 22-under 266, just one stroke off the winning total. Kim also moved up the FedEx Cup standings from 65th to 55th.

Japan's Kensei Hirata finished fourth at 21-under 267, while David Ford of the United States took fifth at 20-under 268. Denny McCarthy of the United States and Alvaro Ortiz of Mexico shared sixth place at 19-under 269.


yjc@heraldcorp.com