Summary
Michael Brennan, who had a standout performance on the PGA Tour Americas, showcased his dominance at Black Desert Resort, closing with a 66, five under par, to win the Bank of Utah Championship. With this victory, he becomes the first player to win a PGA Tour event after receiving an invitation since Nick Dunlap did so in January 2024.
«It’s always been my dream to play and win on the PGA Tour,» Brennan said. «It feels incredible to have achieved this. I’m so grateful to have been on the course this week, and the result was excellent.».
With this victory, the 23-year-old, who shone at Wake Forest, secures a spot on the PGA Tour, avoiding the Korn Ferry Tour next year. He also earns a two-year exemption from the tour, a place in the PGA Championship, and a spot in the RBC Heritage, which boasts a $20 million purse.
Brennan, who was ranked 451st in the world when he left the South American leg of the PGA Tour Americas, had an exceptional summer in Canada, where he won three times in four tournaments and achieved eight top 10 finishes in ten appearances.
Key details
«"It's an incredible feeling," Brennan said. "Winning golf tournaments is one of the best feelings in the world. Playing professional golf takes a lot of hard work, and I have a great team behind me.".
Despite not finishing perfectly, as his second shot on the 6th hole took him to an area with lava rocks and he closed with a bogey, he managed to finish with a total of 262 strokes, 22 under par, four ahead of Rico Hoey, who signed a card of 67.
Brennan began the final round with a three-stroke lead and quickly extended it to five with three birdies in the first five holes, maintaining control for the remainder of the day. "I had one of those weeks where my driver worked really well and I felt very confident," he said.
Hoey closed to within three strokes after Brennan bogeyed the 10th hole, but Brennan responded with a stunning 411-yard drive on the 12th, which earned him a birdie. He then birdied the 14th hole by sinking his 3-wood into the green.
Statements and context
«"Michael played really well from the start, so I was just trying to keep up with him," Hoey said. "He pushed me to make good shots and putts, which was all I could do.".
Although winning the fall portion of the FedEx Cup no longer guarantees a Masters invitation, Brennan's victory puts him in a favorable position, moving him closer to the top 50 in the world rankings, which would grant him access to Augusta National. Hoey, meanwhile, moved from 91st to 61st in the FedEx Cup standings, securing his card for 2026.
Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark and defending champion Matt McCarty tied for third place with 268 strokes, allowing Olesen to climb 19 spots in his bid to retain his full PGA Tour status next year. Brennan also mentioned that his caddie, Jeff Kirkpatrick, had told him during his successful summer that they could skip the Korn Ferry Tour and go straight to the PGA Tour. «I can’t believe he’s right,» Brennan joked.
