The PGA Tour’s celebrated return to Utah continues this year for the Bank of Utah Championship at the Black Desert Resort. Last year, after a 61-year hiatus, the Tour finally returned to the Beehive State. As the new title sponsor, Bank of Utah joins forces with Black Desert Resort—home to a Top 100-ranked course crafted by legendary designer Tom Weiskopf.
Framed by striking lava fields and red rock landscapes in the arid desert of southern Utah, the Black Desert Resort was the last golf course that Weiskopf was associated with before his death. The stunning layout was completed in 2023 by Weiskopf’s design partner, Phil Smith. Sitting at 3,100 feet of elevation, it’s a lengthy desert track that doesn’t play as long as its scorecard yardage. As a resort course, it’s fairly easy-scoring with generous fairways, minimal rough, and large greens.
Last year, PGA Tour rookie Matt McCarty finished at -23 and captured his maiden title by three strokes at the 2024 FedExCup Fall event in what was just his third career start.
The Field
While the field for this year’s tournament is void of high-end players, it is full of young talent eager to make their mark and looking to position themselves for next year’s schedule. Headliners in the 132-player field include Luke Clanton, Jason Day, Max Homa, Billy Horschel, Maverick McNealy, Alex Noren, Aldrich Potgieter, Sahith Theegala, Davis Thompson, Michael Thorbjornsen, and Matt Wallace.
Most Important Stats For Success at Black Desert Resort
*In order of importance
- SG: Putting (Bent)
- Birdie or Better %
- DFEF (Distance From Edge of Fairway)
- Par 4 BoB%
- 3-Putt AVD
- Proximity: 150-200
- SG: Easy Scoring Courses
- Scrambling (Short Grass)
- Putting 5-15 feet
- Driving Distance
Key Rabbit Hole Filters
- Course Region: West
- Course Type: Desert
- Scoring Conditions: Very Easy
- Course Length: Long
- Field Strength: Very Weak
- Event Season: Fall
- Bunker #: Low
- Water Danger: Low
- Greens Surface: Bent
- Rough Surface: Bluegrass
- OTT Club Type: Driver Heavy
- Gain OTT: Very Easy
- Gain APP: Easy
- Gain Putting: Very Difficult
- Scrambling Short Grass: Difficult
- 3-Putt AVD: Difficult
Bank of Utah Championship – Final Model
In each preview article and on Discord, I present my final model, which gives a detailed player ranking of the most important stats and splits for the week. My modeling is based on the PGA’s Strokes Gained data, which is categorized into SG: Off the Tee (OTT), SG: Approach (APP), SG: Around the Green (ARG), and SG: Putting (P). Learn more about Strokes Gained and why it can be so useful in analyzing the past and predicting future performance. Many of these specific metrics and conditions can be found in “The Rabbit Hole“, with my final model exclusively published here and in the Discord for subscribers.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eh0gwuyxRiYFtmQEGz0NqT2LRXuvkhAxhVhBd9vU35A/edit?usp=sharing
Outright Betting Selections
For the most up-to-date picks, check out my Twitter and subscribe to our Discord at BetspertsGolf.com.
*Lines accurate at the time of publication.
- Kitayama +2000 (1.2u) – MGM
- Thompson +2500 (0.96u) – Rivers
- Homa +4500 (0.53u) – Rivers
- Theegala +5500 (0.43u) – 365
- Jaeger +7000 (0.34u) – FD
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Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images