The 18-year-old was an inch away from a slice of history on Friday, eclipsing world No.1 Scheffler on his way to a 12-under round in California.
Brown, who turned pro last year and is weeks removed from graduating high school, needed only one birdie over the final three holes on the Nicklaus Tournament course at PGA West, the easiest of three courses in the rotation in ideal weather.
He hit a gap wedge just right of the pin on his last hole, the par-4 ninth. He had the advantage of seeing David Ford go first on the same line. He picked his spot, rolled the putt and it stayed right, grazing the edge as the gallery groaned.
No matter.
"I'm so stoked," he said, along with needing what he called a "fat nap."
Brown earned Korn Ferry Tour status last year and was in the Bahamas for a tournament that didn't end until Wednesday.
He used a flight voucher he earned from a top-50 finish in the Myrtle Beach Classic last year to fly private to Palm Springs, arriving to his hotel about 8pm on the eve of The American Express, where he is playing on a sponsor exemption.
And now he goes into the weekend tied with golf's best player.
"We're going to see what happens," Brown said.
Scheffler wasn't quite as sharp as he was in the opening round and still managed a bogey-free 64 on the Nicklaus course, playing before the largest gallery and two groups ahead of Brown.
What typically is a casual tournament in the Coachella Valley, set among desert mountains and palm trees and emerald green fairways, was a sellout on Friday.
Scheffler is a big draw in the strongest field in years. And now there's a teenager who was one putt away from becoming the youngest player in PGA Tour history to break 60.
Brown wasn't alone. As he was teeing off on his final hole at the Nicklaus course with a shot at 59, Andrew Putnam was on the 18th hole at La Quinta, needing birdie to break 60.
Both made par. And the tournament is half over, with thoughts now turning to a weekend that features Scheffler looming large as ever atop the leaderboard with a teenager, both at 17-under 127.
Si Woo Kim, a past champion here, shot 65 on the tougher Stadium Course at PGA West and was one shot behind.
After a most promising start, the Australian challenge collapsed on the second day.
Overnight leader Min Woo Lee (now tied 26th) and third-placed Jason Day (now tied 35th) both made 71s after their opening rounds of 62 and 63 respectively. They are now six and seven behind the joint leaders.
Karl Vilips (67-65) is now the leading Australian at 12-under, while Adam Scott (65-69) joined Day at 10-under.Â
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