Bank of Utah Championship date, start time & TV info
Date Thursday, October 23 to Sunday, October 26
Course Black Desert Resort Golf Course, Ivins, Utah
Start time By 2.55pm on Thursday
TV Sky Sports Golf from 10pm on Thursday
Alex Noren and Maverick McNealy are the highest-ranked players lining up at Black Desert Resort this week and both were shown great respect by the bookmaking community in opening shows for the Bank of Utah Championship.
Noren and McNealy are both making their Black Desert debut this week, while McNealy has not competed for more than a month, so they are unappealing options at short odds. Kevin Yu, Davis Thompson and defending champion Matt McCarty are more attractive propositions at bigger prices, but three others are preferred.
Steve Palmer’s Bank of Utah Championship predictions
Michael Thorbjornsen
4pts each-way 16-1 Coral, Ladbrokes
Kurt Kitayama
3pts each-way 20-1 Paddy Power
William Mouw
2pts each-way 45-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
Steve Palmer’s Bank of Utah Championship preview
Top tip
Michael Thorbjornsen 16-1
The sensational ball-striking of Michael Thorbjornsen in the Sanderson Farms Championship and the Baycurrent Classic should have resulted in a maiden PGA Tour title, but the youngster putted poorly and squandered the opportunities. A half-decent putting performance in this week’s Bank of Utah Championship can make it third time lucky for this rising star.
A share of 29th place in the Sanderson Farms was followed by a closing round of 64 for third spot in the Baycurrent Classic. Thorbjornsen has been extremely active lately, finishing 13th in the Procore Championship a month ago, finding a groove in his swing which is probably lacking in McNealy.
Thorbjornsen played in last year’s inaugural Black Desert PGA Tour gathering, opening with a 67 despite suffering from a knee problem. The knee worsened in round two, forcing him to withdraw, but he gained course experience and has returned 128 places better in the world rankings.
Thorbjornsen was runner-up in the Corales Puntacana Championship in April and it seems only a matter of time before this former amateur stud starts winning professional titles. Top-class caddie JJ Jakovac provides an ideal foil.
Next best bet
Kurt Kitayama 20-1
Weekend rounds of 60 and 65 meant 3M Open glory for Kurt Kitayama at the end of July and he could flourish in another low-scoring event this week.
Kitayama’s maiden PGA Tour title came in a high-class 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational, while he won twice on the DP World Tour prior to that, so the 32-year-old has proven his bottle on numerous occasions.
Like Thorbjornsen, Kitayama has the ball-striking class to destroy Black Desert – and both men should set up some eagle opportunities on the two driveable par-fours. Expect these dynamic drivers to pound greens in regulation.
Kitayama finished 25th at Black Desert last year and has been sharper this term, finishing fifth in the John Deere Classic three weeks before his 3M Open heroics. He took some time off after the FedEx Cup playoffs and was rusty in the Baycurrent Classic on his return, but a final-round 67 suggested normal service will be resumed this week.
Other selection
William Mouw 45-1
Another power-packed driver well equipped to handle Black Desert is William Mouw, who won the ISCO Championship in the middle of July after closing with a 61, following up with seventh place in the 3M Open.
Mouw has done well on far less suitable terrain in his last two starts, signing off with a 63 for 18th place in the Baycurrent last time out, so a bold Black Desert debut can be expected. The 25-year-old closed with a 63 for fourth place in his only previous start in Utah on the Korn Ferry Tour last season.
Mouw became a father at the start of last month, so has added inspiration as he bids for a second PGA Tour success.
Read more top golf tips from Steve Palmer:
Steve Palmer’s Bank of Utah Championship first-round golf betting tips and predictions
Bank of Utah Championship: Black Desert Resort course guide, start time, odds and how to watch
Genesis Championship: Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course guide, start time, odds and how to watch
Steve Palmer’s free predictions and golf betting tips for the Genesis Championship
WATCH NOW: The Sweet Spot | Genesis Championship & Bank of Utah Championship preview and best bets
For those looking for even more extensive golf coverage don’t miss Palmer’s extra pointers every Wednesday in the Racing Post newspaper.
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