Ivins, Utah — Michael Brennan entered the Bank of Utah Championship on a sponsor exemption after a disappointing loss on the PGA Tour Americas. He stands to leave Black Desert on Sunday as a PGA Tour winner.
Brennan shot a 7-under 64 under sunny skies on Saturday on a scenic course surrounded by red rock cliffs, putting him two shots behind defending champion Matt McCarty.
“We have a great opportunity tomorrow so we just want to take advantage of it and stay focused,” Brennan said.
Brennan, making his third career PGA Tour start and first as a professional, is trying to become the first player to win on a sponsor exemption since Nick Dunlap of American Express last year.
“I was definitely a little nervous,” Brennan said. “I don’t think it was anything crazy. There was nothing I hadn’t experienced playing professional golf on the American Tour. I felt those experiences were pretty similar, and that’s very satisfying. I had some experience, and I’m hoping to take advantage of that tomorrow. But when you’re on the golf course, it’s just you and the golf course.”
Brennan dropped a stroke with a double bogey on No. 2, playing eight holes at seven under. He started with a 206-yard approach to eagle on the par-5 seventh and finished with chips to 1 foot on the 12th and 2 1/2 feet on the 14th. He scrambled to save par on the 17th and birdied the par-5 18th to take the lead. 17 under 196.
“I’m obviously very happy with the way this round ended,” Brennan said. “Once we got into the game, we played very solidly.”
The 23-year-old former Wake Forest star won three in four tournaments on the PGA Tour Americas in August and September, topping the season points list and earning the first of 10 Korn Ferry Tour spots available on tour.
His victory came in Windsor, Ontario. Brainerd, Minnesota. and Sherwood Park, Alberta. Wake Forest won eight titles, culminating with the 2023 and 2024 ACC Championships.
McCarty also shot a 64, finishing with birdie, birdie, birdie, bogey, birdie, birdie, birdie. He entered the week at No. 84 in the FedEx Cup standings.
“Just take a lot of good shots,” McCarty said. “I missed a few putts. I hit a good putt on the 15th, too. I just hit it a little bit.”
After this week, there are only three tournaments left in the season for players to finish in the top 100 in the FedEx Cup and hold a full card for the 2026 season. The top 100 is down from 125 players who held cards a year ago.
Rico Hoey (63), Kevin Yu (63) and Pierceson Coody (66) were tied for 3rd place at 14 under. Hayden Springer (62) and Thorbjorn Olesen (65) were 13 under. at the FedEx Cup. Yu is 61st, Hoey 91st, Olesen 116th, Springer 131st, and Coody 133rd.
“This is significant because we’re way behind in terms of card retention,” Springer said. “That’s important to me. There’s a big difference between conditional status and full status.”