Michael Brennan wasn’t supposed to be at Black Desert Resort in St. George, Utah. 

He was originally scheduled to do a conference in Canada for a sponsor, where he would hit balls into a simulator, give lessons and compete in a closest to the pin challenge.   

Then, he was granted a sponsor’s exemption into the PGA Tour’s Bank of Utah Championship. 

And won. 

MORE: Final results, payouts from Bank of Utah Championship

In his third-ever Tour start, and first since turning professional in 2024, the 23-year-old from Virginia claimed his maiden title by four strokes over Rico Hoey, finishing at 23 under par. 

Though he’s never won on Tour, Brennan has been on a torrid pace this year. The former Wake Forest star, who claimed eight wins in college, played on the PGA Tour Americas this year and won three times in four weeks. Closing the season with consecutive top fives, he finished first in the tour’s season-long standings, earning Korn Ferry Tour status for 2026. 

Rewarded by Bank of Utah with a start on the world’s top circuit, he took full advantage by showcasing his talent immediately. 

Brennan opened 67–65 to secure the 36-hole lead. In Round 3, it seemed maybe the magic had run out with a double on No. 2. Nope. He eagled No. 7, had four consecutive birdies on Nos. 9–12 and signed for a 64, taking a two-stroke lead over defending champion Matt McCarty, who, ironically, won last year in his third Tour start (he placed third this week). 

Brennan extended his lead to five making the turn on Sunday, but bogeyed No. 10 after hitting his approach left and long from the fairway bunker as Hoey made birdie. 

Again, however, Brennan displayed the poise of a veteran, birding the par-4 12th with a 418-yard drive, tying the 13th-longest tee shot on Tour this year. He led the field in driving distance this week at 359 yards and strokes-gained off the tee (7.5 strokes). Not to mention he hit nearly 90% of fairways, almost 80% of greens in regulation and was eighth in strokes-gained putting (5.5 strokes). 

Perhaps that tee shot was the moment it felt safe to say Brennan would finish it off, but it became official on the par-5 18th, even if there was some trouble. He hit his second shot into an unplayable area, took a drop, chipped onto the green and two-putted for bogey. 

Brennan is the 13th player to win a Tour event while playing on a sponsor’s exemption, and the eighth to claim their maiden Tour victory in their third (or fewer) career start. 

Now, he’ll have full Tour status for two seasons—and, for good measure, a $1,080,000 winner’s check to deposit (his career earnings in 26 PGA Tour Americas starts were $247,389). 

Much better than chipping in Canada, right?


This article was originally published on www.si.com as Sponsor Exemption Breaks Through for Remarkable Win at Bank of Utah Championship.

Test hyperlink for boilerplate