Bank of Utah Championship 2025 Betting Tips: Jamie’s Six for the PGA Tour this week

For those of you looking for the Black Desert Championship, this tournament is one and the same following a new three-year sponsorship deal. 500 FedEx Cup Points are up for grabs along with a $6,000,000 purse. This is the second-time this event has been played, with American Matt McCarty emerging victorious last year.

Our resident golf tipster Jamie Worsley is back with six more value each-way picks this week, so let's check out his Bank of Utah Championship 2025 Betting Tips here at Betfred Insights...

*You can bet on the tournament and check out the latest Bank of Utah Championship Odds over on betfred.com

The PGA Tour returns with the fourth-last event of the FedExCup Fall, as players head to the Black Desert Resort for the Bank of Utah Championship. With time quickly running out to secure their status for 2026, these final few events carry huge significance – promising no shortage of storylines, tension, and excitement this week. 

TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

The event debuted as the Black Desert Championship last year – the first time since 1963 that the tour had visited Utah. 

That inaugural edition was a memorable one, as Matt McCarty – who earned automatic promotion to the tour after recording three victories on the Korn Ferry Tour – converted a 54-hole lead, shooting a 23-under-par total to win on just his second ever start on the PGA Tour. He returns to defend this week. 

THE COURSE 

As with last year's renewal, the Tom Weiskopf-designed Black Desert Resort is our destination. Opening in 2023, this course is still very much in its infancy but is already rated among the best in the state. It also hosted an event on the LPGA this year – another shootout won by Haeran Ryu with a score of 26-under-par. 

The venue has been tweaked slightly since last year, with a fairway bunker added to the 1st hole and additional tees in use on holes 1, 3, 10 and 18.  

This par-71 course has been extended by 50 yards and now measures 7421 yards; however, due to being at over 3000ft of altitude, it will play closer to 7100 yards. It has 4x par 3s (151-202 yards), 11x par 4s (320-532 yards), and 3x par 5s (587-595 yards). 

The Black Desert Resort is a striking and well-maintained course, shaped through a lava field where contrasting black lava rock and large white sand bunkers frame the holes. It is exposed, making it susceptible to wind, with moderate elevation changes throughout – occasionally resulting in blind tee shots – and water is in play on just three holes. 

Its fairways are extremely generous, ranking as the second-easiest to hit in 2024. The bunkers and rock formations are punishing but easily avoided and alongside generally playable rough, it's no surprise that it rated as the simplest driving test on tour last season. 

The firm, fast, and undulating bentgrass greens are large and much like the fairways, players had little trouble accessing them the previous year. Although the challenge on approach didn't prove difficult, the demands of putting these surfaces were high, ranking 4th in putting difficulty. With steep run-offs around many – which often lead into tightly-mown chipping areas – the layout also ranked among the five toughest scrambling tests. 

As we've seen in the two professional events previously held here, birdies are very easy to come by at Black Desert. This is a fun, risk-reward layout that only truly bares its teeth when the wind picks up.  

All three par 5s are reachable in two, and while we do have three par 4s above 500 yards, they are joined by a drivable par 4 on each nine – the 320-yard 5th and 322-yard 14th. It's a course built for excitement and low scoring and unless the conditions play their part, we should expect another birdie-fest. 

THE WEATHER 

This week's field couldn't want for a kinder forecast in Utah. It's predicted to be pleasantly warm (up to 25°C) and bright throughout, and with general wind speeds of around 4mph, there is little to harden the challenge at the Black Desert Resort.  

KEY STATS 

• SG: Approach/Greens-in-Regulation/Proximity from 175-200 yards 

• SG: Putting (bentgrass) 

• Birdie-or-Better % 

In the dry, calm, and scorable conditions that players are likely to encounter this week, it will be another event that comes down to quality in approach – especially from that prevalent 175-200-yard range – and on the greens. 

Matt McCarty excelled with the putter last year, ranking 6th and also ranked inside the top 26 in approach and greens-in-regulation (GIR). 

Runner-up Stephan Jaeger was strong in these areas, ranking 3rd in GIR, 16th in approach and 18th in putting. Meanwhile, 3rd-place finishers, Lucas Glover and Kevin Streelman, produced contrasting statistical performances – Glover putted poorly though ranked 1st in approach and GIR, whilst Streelman struggled with his irons but led the field in approach. 

Furthermore, of the entire top 10 in 2025, eight ranked inside the top 20 in putting. 

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES) 

Shriners Open (TPC Summerlin) 

I felt the Shriners Open could function as a comp for this course prior to last year's inaugural edition, and that certainly appeared to be the case. 

Both venues are vulnerable to low scoring, featuring wide fairways, large bentgrass greens, and are played at altitude. The challenge off the tee was similarly difficult in 2024, whilst they each ranked closely in par 4 and par 5 scoring. 

Notable correlating form: 

Kevin Streelman: 

Bank of Utah (3rd) / Shriners (2nd) 

Lucas Glover: 

Bank of Utah (3rd) / Shriners (3rd) 

Matt Schmid: 

Bank of Utah (5th) / Shriners (3rd) 

Harris English: 

Bank of Utah (6th) / Shriners (4th) 

Mexico Open (Vidanta Vallarta) 

Over to Mexico and I believe Vidanta Vallarta can provide us with a great route into this week's event. It is an open and exposed course with wide fairways and large greens, requiring the wind to blow to give the players a challenge. Meanwhile, approaches from 175-200 yards are commonplace. 

Notable correlating form: 

Stephan Jaeger: 

Bank of Utah (2nd) / Mexico (3rd, 6th) 

World Wide Technology Championship (El Cardonal at Diamante) 

El Cardonal is another wide open and exposed course that has moderate elevation changes throughout. It ranked almost identically to the Black Desert Resort in driving accuracy and greens-in-regulation percentages last year, and each edition of the World Wide Technology Championship has been a birdie-fest – won in scores of -27 (2023) and -24 (2024). 

Notable correlating form: 

Joe Highsmith: 

Bank of Utah (6th) / WWTC (5th) 

Rocket Classic (Detroit Golf Club) 

Detroit Golf Club is a more traditional, tree-lined, parkland layout compared to this open and modern venue. That being said, it ranked closely to this week's host in driving difficulty due to its wide and inviting fairways, and while the bentgrass greens are much smaller, they are similarly tough to putt on. 

Notable correlating form: 

Stephan Jaeger: 

Bank of Utah (2nd) / Rocket Classic (5th, 9th) 

Lucas Glover: 

Bank of Utah (3rd) / Rocket Classic (4th) 

The Sentry (Kapalua Resort - Plantation Course) 

I'll finish with the host of The Sentry – Kapalua's Plantation Course. This spacious and undulating venue displays one of the simplest ball-striking tests on the PGA Tour – with fairways and greens ranking among the very easiest to find – which leads to exceptionally low scoring, averaging a winning score of -30 across its last five renewals. 

Notable correlating form: 

Kevin Streelman: 

Bank of Utah (3rd) / The Sentry (3rd) 

Harris English: 

Bank of Utah (6th) / The Sentry (1st) 

THE FIELD 

After securing two victories on the DP World Tour in his last four starts, Sweden's Alex Noren is the highest-ranked player in this week's field at No. 17. He is one of five from inside the top 50, alongside Maverick McNealy (No. 19), Kurt Kitayama (No. 34), Billy Horschel (No. 40), and making his first start since the BMW Championship in August is Jason Day (No. 42). 

Defending champion Matt McCarty returns; Steven Fisk will tee it up for the first time following his breakthrough PGA Tour victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship; and former No. 9 amateur Michael Brennan will make his maiden PGA Tour start as a pro – coming off the back of winning three of his last six starts on the PGA Tour Americas. 

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders: Maverick McNealy 14/1, Alex Noren 16/1, Michael Thorbjornsen 16/1, Kurt Kitayama 20/1, Davis Thompson 22/1, Jason Day 22/1 

Sahith Theegala 

I put Sahith Theegala up for the second event on the spin last time out, and despite eventually finishing 27th, there were further signs that his game is coming together. He has a handy piece of comp form relating to this test and looks well worth chancing again in Utah. 

Theegala's injury-affected campaign has seen him record just one top-20 – a 17th-place finish at the Genesis Invitational back in February – and he ended the regular season with four missed cuts in a row. However, he spoke of making progress in the five-week break following the Wyndham Championship in August, and this was evident on his second-last start in the Procore Championship, where he fired three rounds in the 60s to finish 38th. 

He backed that up with a 27th-place finish in the Baycurrent Classic two weeks ago – an event in which he displayed continued improvements with his long game and entered the final round in 8th place after rounds of 68, 67 and 70.  

Although he ultimately finished 27th there due to a final-round 72, that was another clear step in the right direction for Theegala, and as a player who made a glut of birdies to finish 2nd in last year's renewal of The Sentry, we know he's capable of going low on a similarly open and undulating layout. 

Aldrich Potgieter 

Next up is talented but unpredictable South African youngster Aldrich Potgieter. He responded impressively after a poor start in Japan, and possessing eye-catching form at correlating events, he should enjoy his first spin around the Black Desert Resort – a course at which he can smash driver throughout. 

Potgieter's rookie season almost got off to the best possible start, as he finished 2nd in the Mexico Open in February. He did little of note following that, missing seven of his next eight cuts, but he turned his form around when 6th at the Charles Schwab Challenge and carried that momentum into his next start – coming out on top in a three-man playoff to claim his breakthrough title in the Rocket Classic. 

He had finished no higher than 59th over his five starts since and looked destined for another poor result as he began with a six-over 77 in the Baycurrent Classic. However, he followed that with rounds of 65, 68, and 68 to finish 33rd and may just have rediscovered his touch at the perfect time. 

The driver is his main weapon, ranking 1st in driving distance and 5th off-the-tee. While this course didn't necessarily favour long or accurate hitters one way or the other last year, there is no doubt that power players will enjoy this open and generous driving course.  

Potgieter is a streaky putter but has gone well on bentgrass several times this season, and with his two best performances of 2025 – 1st in the Rocket Classic and 2nd in the Mexico Open – coming in low-scoring affairs on comp courses, he may just be the ideal fit for this contest. 

Karl Vilips 

The winner of the Utah Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour last season was young Aussie Karl Vilips. He's already taken that next step of winning on the PGA Tour, claiming the Puerto Rico Open earlier in the year, and with his game looking in good shape, he can double his 2025 tally this week. 

Vilips only turned pro in June of last year after a successful amateur career that took him as high as 9th in the rankings. He settled into the pro game straight away on the Korn Ferry Tour, recording that victory, a runner-up finish, and five further top-25 finishes in 10 starts, earning automatic promotion to the PGA Tour. 

He won the Puerto Rico Open with a brilliant 26-under-par winning score on just his third start of 2025. With the exception of an 11th-place finish in the Charles Schwab Challenge, he's failed to have much of an impact since, but he does arrive here in decent form, finishing 19th in the Wyndham Championship, 47th in the Procore Championship, and 40th in the Baycurrent Classic on his last three starts. 

The 24-year-old excels with his irons, and he's been especially strong in that important 175-200-yard range this year, ranking 16th. As a relatively long hitter, he should appreciate the wide-open nature of the Black Desert Resort and ranking 33rd in birdie-or-better %, he has the scoring power to make the required birdies. 

Vilips doesn't have form on the comp courses mentioned, but having recorded that Korn Ferry Tour victory last year at altitude, in this state, and in a birdie-fest – finishing with a 25-under-par total – he can thrive in the demands of this week's test. 

Thomas Rosenmuller 

Rating as one of the top ball-strikers on the PGA Tour, Thomas Rosenmuller is only a good putting week away from going seriously close. He's performed strongly in Utah on the Korn Ferry Tour and sitting at 160th in the FedExCup, he should be as motivated as anyone to take advantage of this suitable layout. 

Rosenmuller's rookie season has been a touch underwhelming, but he does arrive amidst his most consistent run of the season. He's made each of his last six cuts and has picked up four top-30 finishes – going best when 14th in the ISCO Championship and 25th in the 3M Open. 

The German was 29th on his most recent start in the Sanderson Farms Championship and his impressive long game was there for all to see, as he ranked 2nd in greens-in-regulation and approach. These are areas in which he ranks 4th and 25th season-long, and when combined with excellence off-the-tee – where he marries power and accuracy to rank 18th – he's able to create a tonne of scoring chances, ranking 55th in birdie-or-better %. 

Though he struggles with the putter, Rosenmuller's breakthrough Korn Ferry Tour win came in a birdie-fest last year, firing -25 to win the NV5 Invitational. He also finished 5th in the Utah Championship there – an event where last year's Black Desert victor Matt McCarty finished 2nd. Having gone well at altitude in Colorado the previous year, finishing 12th in The Ascendant, he should relish this return to Utah. 

Antoine Rozner 

Antoine Rozner has been reasonably consistent during his rookie season, but a lack of high finishes leaves him in 157th in the FedExCup, and in need of a positive end to the year. As a strong ball-striker with form at altitude, who has excelled on exposed/desert courses during his career, this may be the event that brings the best out of the Frenchman. 

Rozner has only missed three cuts in his 18 PGA Tour starts in 2025, picking up three top-25s – 13th in the CJ CUP Byron Nelson, 22nd in the Scottish Open, and 24th in the Canadian Open. He was 12th in the Open de France just two starts ago – his second-best finish of the season after a 4th in Qatar back in February – but he will need to bounce back from a missed cut in the Sanderson Farms Championship on his latest outing. 

Unsurprisingly, he has carried his high-level of iron play over from Europe, ranking 23rd in approach, 23rd in greens-in-regulation, and most encouragingly, he ranks 2nd in proximity from 175-200 yards. As someone who is long off the tee (ranking 34th in driving distance) but wayward, he should appreciate these wide fairways, and while the putter continues to be his weakness, three of his four strongest performances on the greens this year have come on bentgrass. 

Rozner has won three times on the DP World Tour. The first two came on exposed desert courses in the 2020 Dubai Championship and 2021 Qatar Masters, whilst his latest again came on an exposed layout in Mauritius in 2022. He's also performed well at altitude in the European Masters, finishing 4th in 2022, and he can put those experiences to use this week. 

Isaiah Salinda 

I'll sign off with Isaiah Salinda – another heavy scorer looking to secure his full status for next season. He did find something in the final round of an otherwise disappointing week in Japan and in possession of some eye-catching comp form, he should take to this venue. 

Rookie Salinda looked comfortable at this level at the beginning of the season, recording finishes of 3rd in the Mexico Open and 11th in the Houston Open over the first three months. He struggled following that, posting a series of withdrawals and generally disappointing performances, but he burst back into life to finish 13th in the Procore Championship three starts ago. He then got better with each round on his latest start in the Baycurrent Classic, signing off with a four-under 67 to finish 46th. 

The American shines with the driver, ranking 13th off-the-tee and 23rd in driving distance. That being said, he's also a solid 54th in greens-in-regulation and while not at his best in approach, he does rank 21st from 175-200 yards – promising regarding this test. 

Salinda will now make his debut at the Black Desert Resort sat 101st in the FedExCup, but as the 29th-best birdie-or-better maker, who has produced his two best PGA Tour performances on comp courses – 3rd in the 2025 Mexico Open and 7th in the 2023 Shriners Open – I'm confident he can hit the top of the leaderboard by Sunday evening. 

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