PGA Tour: Black Desert Championship prepares for historic Utah debut among red rock canyons and black lava beds
Tuesday in Utah: Players take to the pristine fairways of Black Desert Resort in Ivins for practice rounds, mesmerized by the dramatic juxtaposition of emerald greens, black volcanic lava, and soaring red cliffs as FedExCup Fall stakes escalate.
| Pos | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Yu Sanderson Farms Champion | -23 (Winner) |
| 2 | Beau Hossler Playoff Runner-up | -23 (P2) |
| T3 | Keith Mitchell FedExCup Fall contender | -20 |
| T3 | Lucas Glover FedExCup Fall contender | -20 |
PGA Tour arrives in Utah; Black Desert Resort debuts amidst volcanic lava and red sandstone
Why this one matters: When the PGA Tour rolls into southern Utah this week for the inaugural Black Desert Championship, it ends a 61-year hiatus from the Beehive State that dates all the way back to Tommy Jacobs winning the 1963 Utah Open.
Set in Ivins beneath the towering 1,000-foot red sandstone cliffs of Snow Canyon State Park, the Tom Weiskopf and Phil Smith-designed course is an architectural marvel. Emerald green bentgrass fairways twist through jagged, black basalt lava flows created by volcanic eruptions 1,500 years ago. The visual contrast is unlike anything on the PGA Tour calendar, forcing players to master elevation shifts and wind funnels off the canyon walls.
Beyond the breathtaking scenery lies pure sporting desperation. With only four events remaining in the FedExCup Fall schedule, competitors outside the top 125 are fighting for their livelihood. Keith Mitchell, who held the 54-hole lead in Mississippi before finishing third, arrives determined to convert his ball-striking into silverware. Playoff runner-up Beau Hossler seeks an immediate response, while newly crowned champion Kevin Yu rides the high of his life into southern Utah.
The stakes
500 FedExCup Fall points, a 1.35 million dollar winner's check, and top-125 PGA Tour exempt status.
The rivalry angle
Keith Mitchell and Beau Hossler look to flip the script in Utah after Kevin Yu's dramatic sudden-death birdie in Mississippi.
Players who could decide it
Led after 54 holes in Jackson with an eight-birdie 65 and arrives in Utah seeking to finish the job.
Fought into a sudden-death playoff at Sanderson Farms and seeks immediate redemption on Utah's red rock canvas.
Did you know?
- !Black Desert Resort Golf Course features 7,371 yards carved through 1,500-year-old black basalt lava flows from the nearby Santa Clara volcano.
- !The tournament marks the first PGA Tour stop in Utah since Tommy Jacobs won the 1963 Utah Open in Salt Lake City 61 years ago.
- !Kevin Yu climbed 31 spots to World No. 63 after his sudden-death playoff victory over Beau Hossler at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Head to head
The top 125 players in the FedExCup Fall standings after the RSM Classic in November earn exempt PGA Tour status for 2027.
Sources
Every score and ranking on this page is locked to a named source. If it is not here, it is not on the page.
