Michael Brennan rises from PGA Tour Americas to PGA Tour winner in just weeks. Stephan Jaeger also returns to form.
Just weeks ago, Michael Brennan was competing on the PGA Tour Americas. Now, after three wins this season, a promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour, and a sponsor exemption to the Bank of Utah Championship, he can call himself a PGA Tour winner. Brennan finished at 22-under-par, four strokes ahead of the Philippines’ Rico Hoey. Hoey in turn held a two-shot lead over a six-way tie for third. Stephan Jaeger also showed signs of resurgence with a T11 finish.
Michael Brennan wins Bank of Utah Championship
Brennan entered the final round with the lead and quickly extended it with five birdies on the front nine, building a five-shot cushion. He stumbled slightly on the back nine with a bogey on the 10th after finding a bunker, allowing Hoey to close the gap. However, two more birdies helped Brennan recover, and even a bogey on the 18th didn’t threaten his victory. “My mental strength or focus has improved significantly,” Brennan said when asked what had changed in his game. “Technically, I’ve also improved around and on the greens. I think that showed this week.”
Stephan Jaeger finds form again
Stephan Jaeger delivered a bogey-free final round to finish T11. After a slow start to the tournament, he improved steadily over the next three rounds, narrowly missing a top-10 finish. It marks his best PGA Tour result since May, when he finished seventh at the Truist Championship. Following some mid-field finishes and missed cuts, Jaeger proved he still has top-tier performances in him.
Jeremy Paul slips down the leaderboard
Jeremy Paul, meanwhile, dropped several spots with a final-round 72. He struggled off the tee and on the greens. Starting on the 10th, he had to lay up on the par-4 13th and failed to reach the green in regulation. On his second nine, two tee shots found the rocky, sandy terrain surrounding the course, costing him two more strokes. He finished T51.