Smotherman Sets the Pace
Austin Smotherman owns the lead at the 2026 Bank of Utah Championship after firing a career-low 62. The veteran golfer made 10 birdies on Friday to reach 17-under total, sitting one shot clear of the field. He needs just one more good round to secure his first PGA Tour victory. Playing in his 100th event, Smotherman showed he can handle the pressure of Black Desert Resort.
He made almost all his birdies from inside 10 feet, showing great touch on the greens. His longest birdie came on the par-3 17th hole, where he sank a 20-footer. Smotherman described his performance simply in a statement to the Associated Press. “It was just very steady — a lot of greens, a lot of fairways, a couple tight wedges,” Smotherman said. That kind of control is what you need to shoot 9 under on a track like this.
Kevin Roy sits right behind him in second place after opening with two 63s. Roy broke his own 36-hole record by five shots to reach 16-under. He knows the stakes are high for his season standing. Roy told the AP that keeping his job on tour is the main goal right now. “I think first and foremost keep a job,” Roy said with a laugh. He wants to feel comfortable with four events left before the FedEx Cup ends.
Koivun Survives Late Scare
The story of the day for many fans was 21-year-old Jackson Koivun making the cut against the odds. The young star was exhausted after the Presidents Cup and struggled early on Friday. He found himself outside the projected cut line for most of the afternoon. Koivun needed a birdie on the par-5 18th just to stay in the tournament.
His drive landed in a left-side bunker with lava rock nearby, a terrible spot for a recovery. He decided to take a big swing rather than play it safe. “I was like, I’m going to go for broke here,” he said. He cleared the trouble and chipped to six feet to save his weekend. Koivun finished at 6-under 136, just on the number to make the cut.
Koivun explained his mindset during that final stretch to Golf.com. “Standing on 9 tee with 10 holes to go,” Koivun said, “I just told myself if I can make four or five birdies, I’ll be fine.” He made five, including that final one. He wants to win every time he plays, not just make the cut. “I’m the type of person that, if I come out to a tournament, I come in here and I want to win it,” Koivun said. He is happy to have a shot at a title this weekend.
Saturday Groupings and TV
The third round kicks off Saturday with tee times starting at 12:23 p.m. ET. The top players will tee off from the 10th hole to watch the field play out. Smotherman will play in a group with Kevin Roy and Kevin Streelman, who shot a 65 on Friday. Doug Ghim is also in that mix after a bogey-free 62.
Fans can watch the action live on Golf Channel from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. The full list of groupings is available per Golf.com for those who want to follow specific players. Other notable names in the field include Billy Horschel, Max Homa, and Nick Taylor. The top 60 players in the standings will secure spots in the big signature events next year.
For the 2027 season, the top 100 retain their cards in this FedEx Cup Fall event. With the weather perfect and the course fast, birdies are flying everywhere. The pressure is on for Roy to close the gap, while Smotherman tries to hold off a hungry field.
