Austin Smotherman won the 2026 Bank of Utah Championship for his first career title on the PGA Tour in his 100th career start. Smotherman shot 26-under for the week to set the tournament scoring record; he beat Doug Ghim by two strokes.
“100 starts out here is an incredible number, just to be blessed to have 100 starts, but even more so, to play professional golf now for 10 years, travel the world, have the support I’ve had, it’s pretty unreal to lift a trophy at the highest level. It’s something we’ve dreamed about since I was a kid, and here we are,” Smotherman said after being asked to put into words how he’s feeling after his win.
Smotherman earned his 2026 PGA Tour membership after finishing third on the Korn Ferry Tour points list after winning twice during the 2025 season. He only made the cut 14 times in 23 starts this season on the PGA Tour. His best finishes this year were a T8 at the American Express and T2 at the Cognizant Classic.
For the third consecutive year, the Bank of Utah Championship has been won by a first-time winner on the PGA Tour. Smotherman became the ninth first-time winner on the PGA Tour this season. With this victory, he earned 500 FedExCup points, a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour – including 2028 Championship Series – and invitations to the 2027 Players Championship and PGA Championship. He also moved to No. 51 in the FedExCup Fall standings (Nos. 51-60 in the final FedExCup Fall standings earn spots in the 2027 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and 2027 Genesis Invitational).
Ghim moved to No. 58 in the FedExCup Fall standings after finishing runner-up for the second time in 192 career starts. David Ford and Trace Crowe went 23-under to secure their career best finishes at T3. Ben James earned his fourth top-10 finish in his last six starts to help him move to No. 59 in the FedExCup Fall standings.
The PGA Tour heads across the Pacific Ocean for the 2026 Baycurrent Classic in Yokohama, Japan. Xander Schauffele won the 2025 Baycurrent Classic, defeating Max Greyserman by one shot for his 10th career PGA Tour win. Schauffele will be joined in the field by fellow Presidents Cup teammates Wyndham Clark, Collin Morikawa, Jacob Bridgeman and Justin Thomas.
