Michael Brennan has won three PGA Tour sanctioned events this year, but you probably missed them.
The 24-year-old Brennan won eight times in college as a star at Wake Forest. He finished 12th in the PGA Tour University Rankings in 2024, which earned him a spot on the PGA Tour Americas. This year, Brennan won three times in that tournament during a summer warm-up. Those victories moved him to the top of the PGA Tour Americas points list and punched his ticket to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2026.
But the long-hitting kid from West Virginia hopes to skip the KFT and go straight to the PGA Tour.
Brennan is on the court at this week’s Utah Bank Championship at the invitation of a sponsor and is making the most of the opportunity. Brennan opened with rounds of 67 and 65 to take the joint lead for the weekend. The 23-year-old made a double bogey on his second hole on Saturday at the Black Desert Resortbut he quickly bounced back, playing his final 16 holes in nine under to get to 17 under and take a two-shot lead into the final round.
A win Sunday would give Brennan a two-year exemption from the PGA Tour, as well as spots in the PGA Championship and The Players Championship.
In short, over 18 holes on Sunday, everything could change for Michael Brennan.
“It means a lot,” Brennan said after shooting a seven-under 64 on Saturday. “It was my goal growing up to play on the PGA TOUR. I know my parents told me the things I wrote in kindergarten about what my dream job was. It was always to play professional golf and do it at the highest level.”
Michael Brennan puts eagle on number 18
The Wake Forest product admitted he was feeling “a little nervous” as Saturday’s third round began. The bogey on the second hole was disappointing, but he quickly stabilized things with a birdie on the fourth hole and then holed his second shot on the par-5 from seven to three feet to set up an eagle. From there, he broke away and raced his way to a two-shot 54-hole lead over defending champion Matt McCarty.
Sunday will be a massive day for Brennan and his career. Yes, he has a spot on the Korn Ferry Tour next season, but chances to make the jump to the PGA Tour are hard to come by. There is no guarantee that his ascent will continue in a straight line. As Brennan prepares for a potentially life-changing round on Sunday, he’ll rely on a simple motto his agent always sends him.
“Treat it like it’s River Creek,” Brennan said of what his agent will text him. “It was a course that I grew up playing and I have some really, really good memories playing with my family and my brother and a bunch of friends out there. It’s where I grew up on the club. It’s a very calming and peaceful place for me. So when I try to imagine I’m hitting shots, just a little 7 makes me feel better about driving it.”
Brennan has built his lead to two strokes with the driver. He leads the tour in strokes gained off the tee (5,912), driving distance (359.20 yards) and is fourth in driving accuracy (90.48%). He is also ninth in tackles and second in tackles.
Brennan knows anything can happen on Sunday in a tournament.
Last year, he had a four-shot lead with nine holes to play in the final event of the PGA Tour Americas season. A win would guarantee Brennan a spot on the Korn Ferry Tour. He double-bogeyed 13 and made a bogey on 14 to finish T3. Brennan said he learned from that experience. While he was nervous on Saturday, he noted that the nerves were not unlike those he felt while leading and winning at the Tour of America this year.
Sunday may be different. It may not be. But Brennan plans to look at the 18 holes in front of him as if they were his home course and let the chips fall where they may. Eighteen holes to change everything.
“I have a great opportunity tomorrow, so try to take advantage of it, stay focused, but also play golf at River Creek,” Brennan said.
“We’ll see.”
