When the sun dipped behind the red cliffs of Ivins, Utah, this weekend, one man stood tall. Michael Brennan, at just 23, owned the weekend with a calm, commanding four-shot win at the Bank of Utah Championship. It was a performance that left even Dennis Paulson in awe.
This victory adds another highlight to what’s already been a breakout season for Brennan. Fresh off earning his Korn Ferry Tour card, he’s starting to look like the next big thing. And to top it off, Paulson’s comparison to one of America’s finest golfers might be the highest compliment he could ask for.
Brennan won the Bank of Utah Championship by four commanding strokes. This was a remarkable feat considering it was only his third career PGA Tour start and his first as a professional. On SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, Dennis Paulson couldn’t stop praising the 23-year-old’s performance. He even compared Brennan’s breakout to that of American golf legend John Daly.
“It’s gonna be interesting to see how this translates, but what I saw, and I don’t wanna go crazy and say all this stuff, but it reminds me a lot of what John Daly did at the PGA Championship when he burst on the scene”, stated Paulson.
The 63-year-old veteran further added, “Now, that was a major championship, but he was just taking it over to corners and doing things that, and I’m not saying that he’s the longest on the PGA Tour, but boy, oh boy, was he straight.” Reflecting on the show that young Brennan pulled off, Paulson shared, “I mean, half those fairways that he missed, one of them was a tug in a fairway bunker, and I saw him hit it through the fairway on that one hole where he drove it all the way in front of the green and it rolled forever to get there… I didn’t see any foul balls.”
Continuing further with the post-game analysis, Paulson shared how the 23-year-old went for a conservative, smart play to keep the ball in play and ensure a good angle and chose a 3-wood instead of a driver on the 18th hole. “It was very impressive the way he drove the golf ball, and if he’s gonna drive the ball like that, the rest of the stuff doesn’t have to be that good, but that stuff is good. That’s the thing. I mean, he’s good with his irons”, said Paulson about Michael Brennan. As it appears, Brennan, too, was confident that he could pull off a win going into the Championship.
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Michael Brennan shares heartfelt reflection after Bank of Utah Championship triumph
The PGA Tour Americas outing for Michael Brennan turned out to be quite a huge success. Battling it out on the Black Desert in the Bank of Utah Championship, Brennan’s impressive showing propelled him to the pole position of the PGA leaderboard. As the second round of the event suffered due to poor lighting conditions, Brennan pulled out a 6-under-65 to take a one-stroke lead. Next up, as he played under a sponsor exemption, the 23-year-old clinched a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth.
Michael Brennan was understandably thrilled after his latest triumph. “It’s very exciting to be in a tour event,” he said. “I wasn’t sure I was going to play any this fall, so to have the opportunity to play in one is awesome. I’m just very grateful to be here. It’s been a really fun week so far. Hopefully, it stays that way.”
Watching Brennan, it was clear he’s a gifted player. But few expected him to dominate the way he did. Then again, maybe it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. The 23-year-old had already won three times between mid-August and late September, and those recent battles clearly shaped how he handled the pressure in Utah.
Reflecting on his victory in The Loop podcast, Brennan said, “Being in those situations [on PGA Tour Americas] has been so fruitful for me in my development as a golfer. I think I had five or six rounds in the final group over the last six tournaments, so I just tried to lean on that experience and enjoy the day.”
It’s safe to say a new name has entered the spotlight. Whether Brennan can sustain this momentum is what makes his next few starts worth watching.