Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images

Michael Brennan surpasses Rory McIlroy’s impressive mark with first PGA Tour triumph

Originally posted on HITC | By Jordan Harris | Last updated Oct 27, 2025 2:57 PM ET

Michael Brennan never looked out of place as he closed out his first PGA Tour win at the Bank of Utah Championship, handling the final round with real composure. The 23-year-old never seemed rattled as he pulled away from the field.

Brennan has already become a familiar face in the winners’ circle this year, with three victories on PGA Tour Americas under his belt. Those wins earned him a sponsor’s exemption into the Bank of Utah Championship, and he took full advantage.

Holding a two-shot lead at Black Desert Resort heading into Sunday, Brennan joined elite company by becoming just the seventh player since 1970 to win in his first three starts on tour.

The win completely changes the path of his career. He no longer needs to think about working through the Korn Ferry Tour – he is now officially a PGA Tour member.

Michael Brennan hits another major career milestone faster than Rory McIlroy

Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

It is not just the early PGA Tour win that sets Michael Brennan apart. He has also achieved something in a shorter span of time than Rory McIlroy.

Brennan has climbed from outside the top 1,000 in the world rankings to 43rd in just over 60 weeks, as noted by Nosferatu on X (formerly Twitter).

His rise has been only slightly slower than players like Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth, and Scottie Scheffler.

Stat of the day

Things that #43 in #OWGR, Michael Brennan, will never get to experience…

– going to #KFT before #PGATour
– being a top 100 player in the world before being a top 50 #OWGR

He joins the list of the fastest players to reach Top 50 in the world rankings! pic.twitter.com/m9ByeFMBeA
— Nosferatu (@VC606) October 27, 2025

Michael Brennan’s standout stats from Black Desert Resort highlight his early potential

Brennan’s power off the tee was on full display in Utah, as he gained more than seven strokes over the field with his driving alone. He averaged over 351 yards per drive for the week.

He also impressed on the greens, showing a well-rounded game that bodes well for his future. There are plenty of encouraging signs as he looks ahead to 2026.

Category	Strokes gained	Michael Brennan’s ranking
Off the tee	7.616	1st
Approach	2.084	24th
Around the green	1.087	27th
Putting	5.392	8th
Total	16.180	1st

Credit PGA Tour

Brennan will be mindful not to get ahead of himself. He only needs to look at Nick Dunlap’s struggles in 2025 to see that early success does not guarantee long-term stability.

But Brennan’s rapid rise up the world rankings has put him among some impressive names already, and he will be hoping this is just the beginning of a successful career.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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