The 2026 Bank of Utah Championship takes place at Black Desert Resort in Ivins from October 1‑4 as the latest PGA Tour event.
It is the second of eight PGA Tour Fall events, with 120 players competing for a $6 million purse and 500 crucial FedExCup points as the battle for 2027 cards continue.
Black Desert Resort is a par‑71, 7,421-yard Tom Weiskopf and Phil Smith design cut through lava fields beneath southern Utah’s red-rock cliffs.
Despite its length, the course is set at more than 3,000 feet above sea level and features wide fairways, minimal rough and large greens, making controlled aggressive golf and high-quality approach play the keys to scoring.
Jackson Koivun heads the latest market following his undefeated Presidents Cup debut, with Benjamin James, defending champion Michael Brennan, Maverick McNealy, Doug Ghim, Marco Penge and Matt Wallace forming the chasing pack.
Current 2026 Bank of Utah Championship Odds
| Player | Betting Odds |
|---|---|
| Jackson Koivun | 13.00 (13/1) |
| Benjamin James | 17.00 (17/1) |
| Michael Brennan | 17.00 (17/1) |
| Maverick McNealy | 21.00 (21/1) |
| Doug Ghim | 23.00 (23/1) |
| Marco Penge | 26.00 (26/1) |
| Matt Wallace | 26.00 (26/1) |
Leading 2026 Bank of Utah Championship Contenders
Jackson Koivun
Jackson Koivun arrives fresh from an undefeated Presidents Cup debut, and the market believes his confidence can carry straight into the Fall schedule.
The 2026 rookie’s all-round game should suit a venue that provides plenty of room from the tee but still demands accurate approaches into large, subtly challenging greens.
If he turns the fairway access Black Desert offers into a steady run of birdie looks, he has a strong chance of justifying favouritism and claiming a second PGA Tour win.
Benjamin James
Benjamin James is another young American who has quickly placed himself among the group of players expected to contend in FedExCup Fall events.
This layout should allow him to be aggressive without facing the same level of danger off the tee as on tighter courses.
The course has been among the easier approach venues on the PGA Tour in its first two years, so James will need to convert a high volume of chances rather than merely play safely.
Michael Brennan
Michael Brennan returns as defending champion after capturing his first PGA Tour victory at the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship.
That prior success at Black Desert is a meaningful advantage in a field where the remaining contenders do not have the same winning blueprint around the lava-lined layout.
If he reproduces last year’s assured approach play and puts himself in familiar positions off the tee, he has every chance to mount a strong title defence.
Maverick McNealy
Maverick McNealy’s well-rounded game should work at a resort-style venue where low scoring is likely, particularly if the wide fairways let him stay aggressive with the driver.
McNealy’s path to victory is straightforward: take advantage of the accessible scoring holes and produce an above-average putting performance.
If he gets hot on the greens, he has the consistency to remain in the mix across all four rounds.
Doug Ghim
Doug Ghim offers a more precision-led profile near the top of the market with a reliable all-round performance that could be very effective.
Black Desert’s generous landing areas should play to his strengths by allowing him to repeatedly position the ball for controlled approaches.
The large greens place a premium on distance control rather than simply hitting the surface and that means Ghim has a credible chance if the tournament rewards consistency rather than a pure putting shootout.
Marco Penge
Marco Penge brings a high-upside power game to the field and the elevated, wide-open nature of Black Desert should give him plenty of chances to use that distance advantage.
Expect Penge to score particularly well on the three par 5s and the longer par 4s but his key is converting length into position, not simply trying to overpower the course.
If he keeps the ball clear of the lava and bunkering while generating short approaches, he has the potential to outperform this number.
Matt Wallace
Matt Wallace’s experience, imagination and aggressive mentality make him an interesting fit for a venue where confident shot-making can create a low score in a hurry.
Wallace will need to balance that attacking instinct with the awareness that misplaced shots can still find lava or strategically positioned hazards.
If the Englishman finds the right balance and starts quickly, he has enough quality to make a deep run at the title.
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