Browsing: Brennan

Oct 25, 2025, 10:14 PM ET

IVINS, Utah — Michael Brennan got into the Bank of Utah Championship on a sponsor exemption after tearing up the PGA Tour Americas. He’s in position to leave Black Desert on Sunday as a PGA Tour winner.

Brennan shot a 7-under 64 on Saturday in sunny conditions on the scenic course framed by red-rock cliffs to take a two-stroke lead over defending champion Matt McCarty.

“I have a great opportunity tomorrow, so try to take advantage of it, stay focused,” Brennan said.

Making his third career PGA Tour start and first as a professional, Brennan is trying to become the first player to win on a sponsor exemption since Nick Dunlap last year in the American Express.

“I was a little nervous, definitely,” Brennan said. “I don’t think it was anything crazy. Nothing that I hadn’t experienced playing professional golf on the Americas tour. I felt like those experiences were pretty similar, which I’m very happy about. I’ve had some experience, and I hope to draw on that tomorrow. But when you’re out on the golf course it’s just you and the golf course. “

Brennan played an eight-hole stretch in 7 under after dropping strokes with a double bogey on No. 2. He started the run with a 206-yard approach to 3½ feet for eagle on the par-5 seventh and finished it with chips to a foot on 12 and 2½ feet on 14. He scrambled to save par on 17 and birdied the par-5 18th to get to 17-under 196.

“I’m obviously very happy with how I finished this round,” Brennan said. “I played very solid coming in.”

The 23-year-old former Wake Forest star won three times in a four-event stretch on the PGA Tour Americas in August and September, and topped the season points list to take the first of 10 Korn Ferry Tour spots available on the tour.

His victories came in Windsor, Ontario; Brainerd, Minnesota; and Sherwood Park, Alberta. At Wake Forest, he won eight titles, topped by ACC Championships in 2023 and 2024.

McCarty also shot 64, closing birdie-birdie-birdie-bogey-birdie-birdie-birdie. He entered the week 84th in the FedEx Cup standings.

“Just hit a lot of good shots,” McCarty said. “Got a few putts to drop. Hit a good putt on 15, too. Just kind of bumped a little bit.”

After this week, only three tournaments remain in the season for players to finish among the top 100 in the FedEx Cup to keep full cards for the 2026 season. The top 100 has been reduced from 125 players keeping their cards a year ago.

Rico Hoey (63), Kevin Yu (63) and Pierceson Coody (66) were tied for third at 14 under. Hayden Springer (62) and Thorbjorn Olesen (65) were 13 under. In the FedEx Cup. Yu is 61st, Hoey 91st, Olesen 116th, Springer 131st and Coody 133rd.

“I’m pretty far back in terms of keeping my card, so it means a lot,” Springer said. “It’s important to me. There is a big difference between being in a conditional status to full status.”

Oct 24, 2025, 09:21 PM ET

IVINS, Utah — Michael Brennan earned a Korn Ferry Tour spot with a dominant late-summer burst on the PGA Tour Americas. In two days at Black Desert in the Bank of Utah Championship, he charged to the top of a PGA Tour leaderboard.

Brennan shot a 6-under 65 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead in the darkness-suspended second round. Playing on a sponsor exemption, Brennan made a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth.

“It’s very exciting to be in a tour event,” said Brennan, 23. “I wasn’t sure I was going to play any this fall, so to have the opportunity to play in one is awesome. I’m just very grateful to be here. It’s been a really fun week so far. Hopefully, it stays that way.”

The former Wake Forest player won three times in a four-event stretch on the PGA Tour Americas in August and September, and topped the season points list to take the first of 10 Korn Ferry Tour spots available on the tour.

“It’s given me so much great experience playing on the Americas Tour this year and having some success,” Brennan said. “I feel like I’ll definitely be more prepared for this weekend after having those experiences. I know it’s not the same level, but I am going to try to treat them the exact same and see what happens.”

Brennan had a 10-under 132 total.

Pierceson Coody (64), Jackson Suber (67) and Justin Lower (67) were 9 under. In the FedEx Cup standings, Suber is 127th, Lower 129th and Coody 133rd.

After this week, only three tournaments remain in the season for players to finish among the top 100 in the FedEx Cup to keep full cards for the 2026 season. The top 100 has been reduced from 125 players keeping their cards a year ago.

Defending champion Matt McCarty played his opening nine — the back nine on the course — in 7-under 28, then was 1 over the rest of the way for a 65. He was 8 under and entered the week 84th in the FedEx Cup.

David Ford was 8 under with six holes left. Play was suspended because of darkness for the second straight day.

First-round leader Thorbjorn Olesen was 7 under after a 70. He’s 116th in the FedEx Cup.

Max Homa was 6 under after a painful-looking 66. The former world No. 5 was seen limping around the course Friday, then later told reporters he has been dealing with a bone spur in his right foot.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.