Everything has changed for Michael Brennan in 12 months.
A year ago, the Wake Forest graduate played on the PGA Tour Americas and will go on the Korn Ferry Tour. So, at the invitation of a sponsor, he won the Bank of Utah Championship last October and never looked back. Brennan made the cut in all four majors in 2026, finished 46th in the FedEx Cup standings and won his second career title at the Wyndham Championship.
His rise continued this week in Japan, where he overcame Jacob Bridgeman and Keith Mitchell on Sunday to win the Baycurrent Classic at Yokohama Country Club. It was Brennan’s third PGA Tour win in less than a year and a sign that the 24-year-old is one of the PGA Tour’s brightest stars.
“I think (winning makes winning),” Brennan, who finished at 16 under, said after his victory. “I just think you can be more comfortable in these situations. I was very nervous today, especially going down the stretch. Jacob and I had a great battle, he played really great going down, and it was really fun. We played a lot of golf in college together. I think I was happy with the way I handled myself this morning. I felt like I woke up and I wasn’t too comfortable with his pressure. I think I’m only able to do this and be like this because of the past experiences I’ve had, not only the win at Wyndham, but also the disappointing finishes in Minneapolis and Detroit, I just feel like I’m trying to learn a little bit from everything.
Brennan started the final round tied for the lead, but watched as Mitchell made three birdies and an eagle in his first eight holes to claim the lead. But Mitchell’s momentum stalled out with a bogey on No. 9, and played his final 10 holes in 2 over. Brennan came out of the blocks slowly on Sunday. He played his opening nine in 2 under before a sloppy bogey at No. But Brennan bounced back with birdies at 11 and 12 to take the lead, then made six straight pars down the stretch to hold off Bridgeman and Mitchell for a one-shot victory.
In late July, Brennan entered Sunday with a chance to win the Rocket Classic and 3M Open. It faded in the two Sundays at Michael Thorbjornsen and Jackson Koivun took home the respective trophies. Brennan said he learned from those mistakes Sunday. His nerves got the best of him; it was over-amplified and led to poor shots and disappointing results.
On Sunday in Japan, Brennan remembered what went wrong in Detroit and Minnesota and worked to treat the final round of the Baycurrent Classic like any other, even as he struggled to hold off Bridgeman, who missed a 5-foot birdie putt on 17 to tie.
“I was nervous, but maybe less so than some of the other tournaments I’ve closed recently,” Brennan said. “And I think that’s progress. I know I still have a way to go before I feel how I think I’d like to feel down the stretch. Really happy with the execution on 18. Even 17, I hit a really good tee ball, a really good tee ball on 18. Yeah, I’m happy with how I was able to handle it today.”
After his win, Brennan was described as a rising star in his greenside interview. He said that was nice to hear and credited his team around him for his incredible growth.
“I feel very comfortable and confident that I know what I’m doing is right. And I feel that I’m better, and it’s really all thanks to them,” said Brennan.
Then, an hour later, Brennan sat on stage and was asked what his big goals are now that he’s a three-time winner. Unsurprisingly, the first thing that came to mind was a trip to Ireland next September, where Team USA will try to win the Ryder Cup on European soil for the first time since 1993.
“It would be really nice to play in the Ryder Cup next year in Ireland. It’s definitely a goal of probably most Americans playing on the PGA Tour. I think it would be an amazing experience,” said Brennan.
In 12 months, Michael Brennan has gone from PGA Tour Americas unknown to rising pro golf star with legitimate Ryder Cup dreams. As his meteoric rise continues, there’s no doubt that Brennan is on Captain Jim Furyk’s radar.
