The PGA TOUR returns from a one-week break and is hosting the Bank of Utah Championship this week. This tournament made its PGA TOUR debut last season under a different name: the Black Desert Championship. For the second straight year, this event will be played at the Black Desert Resort (par 71, 7,241 yards, bentgrass greens) in Ivins, Utah.
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Matt McCarty ($9,000)
McCarty claimed his first PGA TOUR title at the Black Desert Resort last season and it wasn’t close, as he ran away with a three-shot victory, including an 8-under 62 in the first round. McCarty now returns to Utah in sensational form to defend his title at the Black Desert Resort. McCarty has made seven of his last 10 cuts and five of these finishes have been top-25 results. In his last start, McCarty finished T-14 at the Baycurrent Classic two weeks ago and he closed the event with a jaw dropping 11-under 60 at Yokohama CC.
This was the lowest score of the Baycurrent Classic by two strokes and also McCarty’s career-low on the PGA TOUR by two strokes. The 27-year-old has gained strokes on approach and with his putter at three tournaments in a row, and McCarty ranks 17th in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 175-200 yards out this season, which sets him up perfectly for his return to the Black Desert Resort. During this course’s PGA TOUR debut last season, 26.4% of the approach shots for the week came from 175-200 yards.
McCarty should contend in his title defense this week and is an excellent high-end target for all formats at $9,000.
Mac Meissner ($8,000)
Meissner finished T-25 at the Black Desert Resort a year ago – including a pair of 5-under 66s – and he is poised for an even better finish in his second start at the par 71 this week. Meissner sits 24 spots higher in the official golf standings than when he first competed at the Black Desert Resort last year, thanks to a recent impressive run of golf.
Meissner has made five consecutive cuts and three of these finishes have come inside the top-15, including a runner-up at the Wyndham Championship. Outside of with his putter, Meissner has gained strokes in every major category at all five of these events. Also, the 26-year-old has shot under par in 17 of his 20 rounds during this cut streak, most notably with a career-low 7-under 63 at Sedgefield CC.
Meissner ranks fifth in total strokes gained when we analyze this field’s last 24 rounds and he brings top-10 upside this week.
Sam Ryder ($7,300)
Ryder finished T-40 at the Black Desert Resort last year and this was despite coming off four straight missed cuts. The veteran now returns to the venue in far better form, as Ryder has only missed one cut in his last six starts and he has carded four top-30 finishes during this run.
Most recently, Ryder finished T-20 at the Baycurrent Classic two weeks ago and he gained a season-best 6.1 strokes on approach at Yokohama CC. This was a very encouraging sign for Ryder and if he can continue to strike the ball at a high level, to pair with his always-elite putting, Ryder could flourish at the Black Desert Resort this week.
This season, Ryder ranks sixth in SGP and 17th in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 175-200 yards out, which as noted above, is a crucial distance this week, as 26.4% of approach shots at the Black Desert Resort last year came from this distance. A top-20 finish is very possible for Ryder this week and he is a steal at only $7,300.
