Patrick Fishburn is competing in his home state at the Bank of Utah Championship to seek full PGA Tour security for 2027. The Utah native and BYU product is playing at Black Desert Resort following a late-season surge where he has made the cut in nine of his last 11 events.
Fishburn's 2026 season began with difficulty, as he missed six of his first eight starts. However, his recent performance has placed him in a position to potentially secure his tour status. The tournament is being held at Black Desert Resort, a course designed by the late Tom Weiskopf and finished by his partner, Phil Smith. The course is currently ranked No. 1 in Utah on Golfweek’s Best list of public-access courses and is ranked No. 30 among all resort courses in the United States.
Several players with Utah ties are participating in the event. Beehive State natives Rhett Rasmussen and Carson Lundell entered the field through Monday qualifying, while BYU's Kihei Akina entered via a sponsor's exemption. Fishburn noted that the presence of local players highlights the high level of golf being developed within the Utah Junior Golf Association, the PGA Junior Section, and the Utah Golf Association.
The Black Desert Resort course, which opened in 2023, has received high praise for its natural beauty despite challenges with pace of play due to the landscape. Fishburn described the course as a great test, noting that the landing areas can be difficult to see and the greens require precise speed due to their complex breaks.
Fishburn, who has been playing in St. George since age 9, expressed that playing in front of family and friends in Utah is a special experience.
