Opinion: Michael Brennan’s Utah victory is very notable

Michael Brennan (YouTube)

The 2025 Bank of Utah Championship completed on Sunday with Michael Brennan of Leesburg, Virginia being victorious. Brennan shot a four round score of -22 and beat Rico Hoey of the Philippines by four strokes.

If you have never heard of Brennan before, you are not the only one. Brennan is only 23 years of age, recently graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in Economics, has never made the cut at a major championship, and only participated in his first ever PGA tournament as a professional this past weekend in Utah. To win on the PGA Tour as a professional in your first attempt deserves high praise indeed.

You could make the argument that Brennan followed in the footsteps of Lottie Woad of England this year. Woad made headlines this summer when she won the Irish Open as an amateur, finished third at the Evian Championship as an amateur, and then won the Scottish Open as her first tournament as a professional.

Over the weekend, Brennan had an opening round score of four-under-par 67, a second round score of six-under-par 65, a third round score of seven-under-par 64, and a fourth round score of five-under-par 66.  It was actually a tough start for Brennan as he double bogeyed the second hole in round one on Thursday. That was followed by six round one birdies. Brennan’s first memorable shot in the tournament came in round two on Friday as he eagled the ninth hole. Then in round three, Brennan eagled the seventh hole after having another double bogey on the second hole.

This is only the second time the PGA Tour event at Black Desert Resort took place. Matt McCarty of Scottsdale, Arizona won in 2024.