Niall Lyons has a team of four heading into this week's Bank of Utah Championship.
Bank Of Utah ChampionshipSee All Odds
The Black Desert Golf course holds this event for the third year now and we're beginning to get a sense of just how the course plays.
Brennan was ranked 2nd in driving distance last year and ranked 1st for strokes gained off the tee. He putted really well also, as did Matt McCarty when he won the previous year. He didn't rank particularly high in distance off the tee but did rank 8th in strokes gained off the tee for the week. Overall putting counts for an awful lot here and with the course playing at altitude it is difficult to rule out any of the shorter hitters here.
Another desert course worth looking to is TPC Scottsdale as Weiskopf designed both layouts. TPC Craig Ranch is another to look to for pointers and with low scoring being essential these last two years various events where the winning score exceeds 20 under par could be worth a glance.
Previous Winners:
- 2025 - M.Brennan (-22)
- 2024 - M.McCarty (-23)
Bank of Utah Championship Winner Stats
Bank of Utah Championship Tips
| Player | Bet | Odds | Stake | Terms | Bookmaker | Bet Here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Koivun | Win Only | 14/1 | 4pts WIN | — | General | Click Here |
| Zach Bauchou | Each-way | 70/1 | 1.25pts E/W | 1/5 odds, 10 places | Sky Bet, Paddy Power | Click Here |
| Nick Taylor | Each-way | 45/1 | 1.5pts E/W | 1/5 odds, 10 places | Sky Bet, Paddy Power | Click Here |
| Justin Lower | Each-way | 125/1 | 1pt E/W | 1/5 odds, 10 places | Sky Bet, Paddy Power | Click Here |
Jackson Koivun at 14/1 (WIN)
Europe have won the last two Ryder Cups in late September of 2023 and 2025 with the Dunhill Links event on the following week. Matt Fitzpatrick and Robert MacIntyre have each won the last two renewals of that event following a successful week at the Ryder Cup. Somewhat foolishly I have written those players off the following week when all the evidence now suggests that a team victory the week prior can have a positive effect. At 21 years of age the hangover for Jackson Koivun should not be so bad and considering the players he toppled last week he should be licking his lips when looking at this field. Heading into the Singles last week Si Woo Kim was the joint top pts scorer and whilst the game went up the 18th his bravery was incredible. Club twirls off the tee and on approach when clearly his match mattered an awful lot was ballsy to say the least and we got another glimpse of just how special this kid is. Long term I believe he probably be will be more potent on the difficult golf courses but last time out he still managed 21 under par in a birdie shoot out at the Biltmore. He ranks 2nd in weighted strokes gained tee to green for the last 20 rounds and he's gaining with the putter crucially also. Jackson Suber and Marco Penge are two other who appeal but there are enough doubts in both of those to put me off at the prices. Koivun arrives here with a spring in his step and will be keen to gain a place in the 51-60 standings in the Fedex Cup standings to gain entry into the Pebble Beach Pro Am and the Genesis Invitational.
Zach Bauchou at 70/1 (Ten Places)
It feels like a golf course to play a couple of all rounders and Zach Bauchou is one who looks like he could compete this week. Like Michael Brennan and Matt McCarty before him Bauchou is in his first full season on tour and this event looks ripe for these sorts to capitalise and it'd be no surprise should we see another first time winner here at the Black Desert. Bauchou isn't overly long off the tee but he is helped by wide fairways and altitude here. Approach wise he ranks inside the top 50 this year on the PGA Tour gaining strokes on the field in that department in 10 of his last 12 starts. He ranked 7th in strokes gained putting at the 3M Open and 3rd in the same statistic at the Wyndham so he has plenty of hot form with the putter in his last four starts. He landed his sole Korn Ferry Tour victory this month last year and with a top 15 in the Californian Desert as well as a top 6 finish at Craig Ranch he looks well equipped to score well here this year.
Nick Taylor at 45/1 (Ten Places)
Nick Taylor can come away from last week with a lot of confidence and hopefully that will give him the feeling that he belongs again after a somewhat quiet 2026. Being a great putter really helps around this layout and he should be brimming with confidence with that club. He got 2.5 from a possible 4 pts last week and the only players who manged to beat him were the formidable duo of Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup. Taylor held his own in an important match again Henley in the 11th spot eventually coming out with a tie having been down a couple of times during the match. Getting that spot in the singles showed that Geoff Ogilvy thinks a lot of him in high pressure situations and he delivered all week. Taylor finished 25th here in his only appearance a couple of years ago and has a victory and a runner up at TPC Scottsdale. Personally he should feel very proud of his performance last week and I'm hoping that carries over to Utah.
Justin Lower at 125/1 (Ten Places)
Finally I'll take a stab with Justin Lower at big prices. Lower played reasonably well last time out at the Biltmore finishing 33rd but ranking inside the top 20 for strokes gained tee to green. There have been various glimpses of light lately in all departments but he is yet to really shine in any one area to have a good week. This week he is helped by the altitude and I'm hopeful of a decent tournament just like last time out. If he can manage to putt better then we could be looking at a decent outsider contending here over the weekend. Last year he had missed four of his last five cuts before arriving here and finishing 3rd. This time around he is playing better and with McCarty having gone 1st and 3rd here the first two renewals at this course there is a chance that previous form here continues.
