In his first PGA Tour start as a professional, long-hitting American youngster Michael Brennan has continued a dramatic career rise with a four-shot victory in the Bank of Utah Championship.

The 23-year-old second-year pro closed with a five-under 66 to triumph at 22-under 262 on Sunday, becoming the first player entered on a sponsor exemption to win since Nick Dunlap took The American Express in January 2024 as an amateur.

The victory means Brennan, who starred at Wake Forest, gets to skip the Korn Ferry Tour next year and go straight to the big leagues. He earned a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, along with a spot in the PGA Championship and the $US20 million RBC Heritage.

Winning in the FedEx Cup Fall portion of the schedule no longer comes with an invitation to the Masters, but now even that is in range for Brennan. 

His recent feats have now taken him just inside the top 50 in the world. The top 50 at the end of the year get to Augusta National in April.

Brennan was world No.451 when he left the South America portion of the PGA Tour Americas. But he was dominant in Canada (with one win in Minnesota), winning three times in a four-tournament stretch and posting eight top 10s in 10 starts.

Winning the Fortinet Cup season points race gave him a fully exempt Korn Ferry Tour card. Now he's going straight to the PGA Tour to compete alongside Scottie Scheffler and the rest of golf's best.

"It's an amazing feeling," Brennan said. "Winning golf tournaments is one of the better feelings in the world. It takes a lot to play professional golf, and I have such a great team behind me."

Brennan won from Rico Hoey (67) with David Ford (67), Thorbjorn Olesen (68), Ben Silverman (67), Justin Lower (67), Pierceson Coody (69) and Matt McCarty (70) all two shots further back in a tie for third.

Australian Jason Day made an eagle and eight birdies in an action-packed closing 65 to tie for 20th, 10 shots behind Brennan, while Harrison Endycott (69, nine under) tied 37th and fellow countryman Karl Vilips (77, two over) was tied 66th.    

Brennan was a combination of power and poise at Black Desert Resort, the scenic Tom Weiskopf design framed by the red-rock cliffs and black lava.

Starting the final round with a three-shot lead, Brennan ran off three birdies in his opening five holes to stretch his lead to five shots and was never seriously challenged.

Brennan said his caddie, Jeff Kirkpatrick, told him during his hot summer run that they would bypass the Korn Ferry Tour and make it straight to the PGA Tour.

"I can't believe he's right," Brennan said with a laugh.

- with AAP