Blades Brown climbed the latest rung of a ladder he hopes leads to a PGA Tour card.
Brown, a Nashville native and one of golf’s rising young stars at 19 years old, accepted a PGA Tour special temporary membership, the Tour announced June 2. It gives him the opportunity to accept unlimited sponsorship exemptions for the remainder of the Tour season, giving him access to more tournaments.
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The former Brentwood Academy star tied for 14th at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on May 24 to give him enough non-member FedEx Cup Points (266) for special membership. His points place him between No. 88 and No. 89 in the current FedExCup standings.
Brown skipped college to turn pro at 17 years old in 2024. He didn’t secure a PGA Tour card through Qualifying School last fall but has made a lot of noise in Tour events and on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2026.
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
May 24, 2026; McKinney, Texas, USA; Blades Brown watches his shot from the second tee during the final round of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
(Raymond Carlin III, Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
May 24, 2026; McKinney, Texas, USA; Blades Brown watches his shot from the second tee during the final round of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
(Raymond Carlin III, Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Professional golfer Blades Brown bumps fists with Rally Kid Harrison, who is fighting brain cancer, as they participate in the Rally On The Runway fashion show at Marathon Music Works on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. The annual fashion show fundraiser, hosted by the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, raises money for childhood cancer research.
(MARK ZALESKI / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 25: Blades Brown of the United States reacts on the first green during the final round of The American Express 2026 at Pete Dye Stadium Course on January 25, 2026 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
(Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 25: Blades Brown of the United States and Scottie Scheffler of the United States shake hands following the final round of The American Express 2026 at Pete Dye Stadium Course on January 25, 2026 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
(Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown warms up on the range before the final round of The American Express in La Quinta, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
(Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun, Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 25: Blades Brown of the United States looks on from the 11th hole during the final round of The American Express 2026 at Pete Dye Stadium Course on January 25, 2026 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown and Si Woo Kim line up putts during the final round of The American Express golf tournament at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
(Taya Gray/The Desert Sun, Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown and Scottie Schefler talk during the final round of The American Express golf tournament at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
(Taya Gray/The Desert Sun, Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Jan 25, 2026; La Quinta, California, USA; Blades Brown hits his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of The American Express golf tournament at Pete Dye Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
(Denis Poroy, Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown tees off on 18 of the Pete Dye Stadium Course during the final round of The American Express in La Quinta, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
(Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun, Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown watches his approach to the third green on the Pete Dye Stadium Course during the final round of The American Express in La Quinta, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
(Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun, Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown watches his tee shot on four of the Pete Dye Stadium Course during the final round of The American Express in La Quinta, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
(Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun, Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown tees off on two of the Pete Dye Stadium Course during the final round of The American Express in La Quinta, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
(Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun, Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown fist bumps some golf fans who are a little closer to his age after finishing the ninth hole during the third round of the American Express on the Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta, January 24, 2026.
(Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun, Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Jan 24, 2026; La Quinta, California, USA; Blades Brown raises his putter after making a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the third round of The American Express golf tournament at Pete Dye Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
(Denis Poroy, Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown reacts to almost shooting a 59 for the day on the Nicklaus Tournament Course during the second round of The American Express golf tournament at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.
(Taya Gray/The Desert Sun, Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – AUGUST 08: Blades Brown of the United States watches his tee shot on the fourteenth hole during the second round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Woodhouse 2025 at The Club at Indian Creek on August 08, 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)
(Jay Biggerstaff, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
OGDEN, UTAH – AUGUST 03: Blades Brown of the United States reacts on the 18th green during the final round of the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank and Intermountain Health 2025 at Ogden Golf & Country Club on August 03, 2025 in Ogden, Utah. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
(Luke Hales, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
BERTHOUD, COLORADO – JULY 13: Blades Brown of the United States hits a tee shot on the 16th hole during the final round of The Ascendant presented by Blue 2025 at TPC Colorado on July 13, 2025 in Berthoud, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
(Andrew Wevers, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – MAY 22: Blades Brown of the United States lines up a putt on the fifth green during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge 2025 at Colonial Country Club on May 22, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
(Sam Hodde, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 09: Blades Brown of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the second round of the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic 2025 at Dunes Golf & Beach Club on May 09, 2025 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – APRIL 25: Blades Brown of the United States plays a shot from a bunker on the seventeenth hole during the second round of the Veritex Bank Championship 2025 at Texas Rangers Golf Club on April 25, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
(Sam Hodde, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA – APRIL 6: Blades Brown signs for fans after the final round of the Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club 2025 at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club on April 6, 2025 in Savannah, Georgia. (Photo by Mogie Adamchik/Getty Images)
(Mogie Adamchik, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA – APRIL 5: Blades Brown tees off on the 12th hole during the third round of the Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club 2025 on April 5, 2025 in Savannah, Georgia. (Photo by Mogie Adamchik/Getty Images)
(Mogie Adamchik, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA – APRIL 4: Blades Brown and his caddie huddle on the 10th tee before teeing off during the second round of the Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club 2025 on April 4, 2025 in Savannah, Georgia. (Photo by Mogie Adamchik/Getty Images)
(Mogie Adamchik, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA – APRIL 04: Blades Brown juggles a golf ball while walking off of the 10th green during the second round of the Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club 2025 at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club on April 4, 2025 in Savannah, Georgia. (Photo by Mogie Adamchik/Getty Images)
(Mogie Adamchik, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA – MARCH 21: Blades Brown of the United States plays his shot from the fifth tee during the second round of the Valspar Championship 2025 at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 21, 2025 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)
(Brennan Asplen, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA – MARCH 20: Blades Brown of the United States walks from the 11th hole during the first round of the Valspar Championship 2025 at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 20, 2025 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
(Julio Aguilar, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 21: Blades Brown of the United States plays his shot from the eighth tee during the second round of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld 2025 at Vidanta Vallarta on February 21, 2025 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
(Hector Vivas, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 21: Blades Brown of the United States plays his shot from the fifth tee during the second round of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld 2025 at Vidanta Vallarta on February 21, 2025 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
(Hector Vivas, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 20: Blades Brown of the United States lines up a putt on the 15th green during the first round of the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld 2025 at Vidanta Vallarta on February 20, 2025 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Jan 18, 2025; La Quinta, California, USA; Blades Brown plays his shot from the fourth tee during the third round of The American Express golf tournament at La Quinta Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images
(Abe Arredondo, Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 17: Blades Brown of the United States reacts to a putt on the 11th green during the second round of The American Express 2025 at Nicklaus Tournament Course on January 17, 2025 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 16: Blades Brown of the United States lines up a putt on the second green during the first round of The American Express 2025 at La Quinta Country Club on January 16, 2025 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
(Joe Scarnici, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown, 17, is The Tennessean’s High School Sportsperson of the Year for 2024. He will make his professional debut at the 2025 American Express on the PGA Tour.
(Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Golfer Blades Brown, 17, is The Tennessean’s High School Sportsperson of the Year, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Franklin, Tenn. Blades will begin playing professionally and his first tournament will be PGA Tour’s American Express Golf Tournament in 2025.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown owatches his shot from the eighth tee during day three of the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship on the South Course at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
(Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Blades Brown plays his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the Myrtle Beach Classic at Dunes Golf & Beach Club on May 09, 2024 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
(Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 11: Blades Brown of the United States walks off the tenth green during the third round of the Myrtle Beach Classic at Dunes Golf & Beach Club on May 11, 2024 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
(Raj Mehta, Getty Images)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Brentwood Academy’s Blades Brown is seen on hole 1 while competing in the DII-AA TSSAA state golf tournament, at Sevierville Golf Club, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.
Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Brentwood Academy’s Blades Brown is seen on hole 1 while competing in the DII-AA TSSAA state golf tournament, at Sevierville Golf Club, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.
Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Brentwood Academy golfer Blades Brown Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 in Brentwood, Tenn. Brown is the youngest co-medalist in U.S. Amateur stroke play history.
(Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
Brentwood Academy eighth grade Blades Brown won the Division II-AA boys state golf title at the TSSAA golf state championships Oct. 5 at the Sevierville Golf Club.
(Emily Adams/News Sentinel)
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Blades Brown, 19-year-old pro golfer on PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour
MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 12: Blades Brown of the United States (R) speaks with his caddie on the sixth hole during the final round of the Myrtle Beach Classic at Dunes Golf & Beach Club on May 12, 2024 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
(Sam Greenwood, Getty Images)
More: Blades Brown is on the verge of PGA Tour special membership
More: Blades Brown’s PGA breakthrough hints at his special future | Estes
The special membership creates another path toward full-time Tour status.
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Does Blades Brown have his PGA card?
Not yet.
That’s why Brown had a big decision about whether or not to accept special membership.
Brown is No. 11 in the Korn Ferry Tour points list and can secure a card by finishing in the top 20 at season’s end. That’s more than feasible the way Brown’s playing. He has a runner-up and a third-place finish this Korn Ferry season, six top-25 finishes and ranks among the top 25 in 10 statistical categories.
He could have declined special PGA membership and committed to chasing his card through the Korn Ferry Tour, while still sprinkling in a few PGA events. Accepting a special PGA membership will likely reduce Brown’s Korn Ferry schedule, meaning he’d have to pursue a top-20 Korn Ferry points list finish while contending at the additional PGA events where he gains exemptions.
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But playing more PGA events gives Brown a better chance to win one, which would secure immediate full-time Tour status. Without special membership, he could only accept seven sponsor exemptions. That might not be enough for someone who is already showing he can win on Tour.
Brown has $833,612 career earnings through Tour events, making 10-of-16 cuts overall and two top-10 finishes in 2026. He carded seven birdies in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson third round, finishing at 6-under 65. He shot rounds of 66, 68, 65, 67 on the week for an 18-under finish.
At the American Express in January, he finished tied for 18th after playing in the final group alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
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He also contributes to The Tennessean’s high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Does Blades Brown have a PGA card? Why he has temporary membership
