While the PGA Tour’s biggest names skip the Bank of Utah Championship, three players are positioned to capitalize on their absence at Black Desert Resort—and one controversial Ryder Cup snub could finally get his redemption.
The tournament kicks off on October 23 at Tom Weiskopf’s final masterpiece. Black Desert Resort stands carved from ancient lava fields and fiery red cliffs, creating one of golf’s most visually striking venues. The 132-player field might lack marquee stars, but the top three contenders bring serious firepower to Southern Utah.
Alex Noren Arrives as Sweden’s Hottest Hand
Alex Noren enters as the field’s highest-ranked player at World No. 17. The Swedish veteran arrives with serious momentum after capturing his second BMW PGA Championship title in September. He closed at 19-under par, winning a playoff against France’s Adrien Saddier with a clutch birdie on the first extra hole.
That victory marked Noren’s 12th DP World Tour title. Consequently, he surpassed Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson to become Sweden’s most successful player in tour history. “I never thought I would do that growing up,” Noren reflected after the win. “When you say it, it feels quite big.”
His recent form speaks volumes beyond just victories. Noren finished T3 at the Wyndham Championship in August, carding a final-round 64 to climb the leaderboard. Additionally, he grabbed T7 at the 3M Open with a 19-under total. His last five tournaments have shown consistent excellence, with strokes gained averaging 4.371.
The 43-year-old also brings Ryder Cup experience as Europe’s vice-captain. He served alongside Captain Luke Donald at Bethpage Black in late September. Now he’s ready to translate that championship mentality into another trophy.
Maverick McNealy—The overlooked favorite
Maverick McNealy sits at World No. 19 but carries the tournament’s best betting odds at +1200. The 29-year-old finished his 2025 season in 23rd place on the FedEx Cup standings. More importantly, he recorded seven top-10 finishes, including a heartbreaking runner-up at the Genesis Invitational.
That February performance still stings. McNealy fired a final-round 64 to surge up the leaderboard. He made five consecutive birdies and reached 9-under through 13 holes. However, Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg held on to win by a single stroke. The runner-up finish earned McNealy $2.2 million but left him hungry for more.
Then came the Ryder Cup controversy. McNealy finished 10th in the U.S. rankings but didn’t receive one of Captain Keegan Bradley’s six picks. The snub hurt after what McNealy called “the best season of my PGA Tour career.” He responded with grace on social media while clearly disappointed.
Now he’s channeling that frustration into Black Desert. Experts note that McNealy has gained a total of 62.3 strokes in his last 50 rounds on easy courses. The birdie-friendly layout should suit his game perfectly. Furthermore, his 2024 RSM Classic victory demonstrated that he knows how to close out tournaments.
Kurt Kitayama brings power game
Kurt Kitayama rounds out the top three at World No. 34. The 32-year-old brings legitimate length off the tee, averaging 317.3 yards this season. That number ranks him 11th on the PGA Tour and should play perfectly at Black Desert’s wide-open layout.
Kitayama captured his second PGA Tour title at the 3M Open in July. He dominated with a third-round 60 and opened Sunday’s final round with a front-nine 29. The victory showcased both his power and his ability to go low when conditions allow scoring.
Black Desert Resort presents exactly those conditions. Kitayama finished T25 at last year’s inaugural event, gaining valuable course knowledge. Meanwhile, his strokes gained off the tee ranks ninth on tour at 0.627. Despite struggling on the greens this season, his ball-striking advantage could prove decisive on the forgiving layout.
The $6 million purse and $1.08 million winner’s check await. All three players enter with different motivations—Noren chasing momentum, McNealy seeking validation, and Kitayama hunting his third tour victory. One thing’s certain: Black Desert will crown a champion ready to seize the spotlight.