Billy Ray Brown, a reporter for the Golf Channel and CBS, played on the PGA Tour in the 1980s and 1990s and had three wins in PGA Tour events during his playing career, which was cut short by a wrist injury and subsequent surgeries. His best finish in a major championship was T-3 at the 1990 U.S. Open. He earned 17 top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events during his career. Brown attended the University of Houston and was a member of the golf team. He won the 1982 NCAA Division 1 Championship as a freshman. He was also a member of the 1984 and 1985 national championship teams, and was an All-American all four years.

After his playing days ended, Brown moved into the media and has served as an on-course reporter for ABC Sports. In 2007, Brown joined the Golf Channel as an on-course reporter for the Champions Tour.