Black Desert Championship 2024 preview: Field, betting odds, tee times and how to watch
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Utah welcomes its first PGA Tour event since 1963 as the Black Desert Championship gets ready to take center stage as part of the FedEx Cup Fall Series.
The Utah Open Invitational was the last tour event to be held in the Beehive State, which was won by Tommy Jacobs 61 years ago.
The state has been home to the Korn Ferry Tour’s Utah Championship (1990-present) and Uniting Fore Care Classic (1982-2002) on the Champions Tour. This new event will mark a four-year agreement with the Black Desert Resort.
This tournament is the third in the Fall Series, which gives those golfers who finished outside the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings the opportunity to secure their playing privileges in 2025. See the current FedEx Cup Fall standings here.
The tournament will feature several local golfers including 18-year-old Utahn Kihei Akina who will make his first PGA Tour start along with Dustin Volk, who secured qualification via the Utah PGA Section.
The likes of Daniel Berger, Webb Simpson Martin Laird, and Troy Merritt, who have won a combined 17 PGA Tour events between them, currently lie outside the top 125 in the rankings. All four will need a big push to secure their playing status next year.
Where is the Black Desert Championship played?
Black Desert Resort golf course is the host this week, despite only opening its doors to the public in 2023. Not only will it host the Black Desert Championship for the next four years, but the resort is also playing host to an event on the LPGA Tour from April 2025.
The course marks the final design by the late Tom Weiskopf – winner of the 1973 Open Championship and 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee – and partner Phil Smith. The pair have created a stunning track that plays against the backdrop of southern Utah’s red rock mountains.
The wonderful scenery shouldn’t distract from the fact that the par-72, 7,400-yard course could prove to be a rather tricky one to negotiate, especially considering this is the first time it has hosted a PGA Tour event.
Who is in the field for the Black Desert Championship?
Players such as Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy may be missing, but the field is still packed with PGA Tour winners aiming to secure their playing rights next year.
Four-time winner on tour, Harris English, is in the field, while Chris Kirk, Nick Taylor and Davis Riley will be aiming to win for the second time on the PGA Tour this year.
Former Masters Champion and the recent Presidents Cup International captain – Mike Weir – is set to compete for the first time since the Procore Championship when he missed the cut.
The full field for the Black Desert Championship can be found here.
What is the format of the Black Desert Championship?
The format of the Black Desert Championship is a standard strokeplay event played over 72 holes with a cut after 36 holes (two rounds). The player with the lowest score over four rounds will win the tournament.
Who will win the Black Desert Championship?
Selected pre-tournament odds:
Keith Mitchell 20/1
Seamus Power 22/1
Kirt Kitayama 28/1
Patrick Fishburn 28/1
Chris Kirk 33/1
Beau Hossler 33/1
Ryan Fox 33/1
Erik van Rooyen 33/1
Ben Griffin 35/1
Lucas Glover 40/1
How much will the winner of the Black Desert Championship receive?
The purse this week is $7.5m, which is $1.5m more than what was on offer during the first event in the FedEx Cup Fall Series, the Procore Championship. The winner will also receive 500 FedEx Cup points, which could provide a vital boost to their chances of securing full playing privileges in 2025.
2024 FedEx Cup Fall schedule
| Date | Event | Venue |
| September 12-15 | Procore Championship | Silverado Resort and Spa |
| October 3-6 | Sandersons Farms Championship | The Country Club of Jackson |
| October 10-13 | Black Desert Championship | Black Desert Golf Course |
| October 17-20 | Shriners Children’s Open | TPC Summerlin |
| October 24-27 | Zozo Championship | Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club |
| November 7-10 | World Wide Technologies Championship | El Cardonal at Diamante Cabo San Lucas |
| November 14-17 | Butterfield Bermuda Championship | Port Royal Golf Course |
| November 21-24 | The RSM Classic | Sea Island Golf Course |
How to watch the Black Desert Championship?
Viewers in the UK can watch the Black Desert Championship on Sky Sports Golf.
All times BST
Thursday, 10 October: Sky Sports Golf, 22.00
Friday, 11 October: Sky Sports Golf, 17.30
Saturday, 12 October: Sky Sports Golf, 22.00
Sunday, 13 October: Sky Sports Golf, 22.00
Viewers in the US can watch the action on the Golf Channel.
All times MDT
Thursday, 10 October: Golf Channel, 17.00
Friday, 11 October: Golf Channel, 17.00
Saturday, 12 October: Golf Channel, 17.00
Sunday, 13 October: Golf Channel, 17.00
Black Desert Championship: Tee times and groupings
Tee times and groupings can be found here.
About the Author
Ross Kilvington – Contributing Golf News Writer
Ross Kilvington is a freelance writer from Scotland who currently writes previews for Today’s Golfer, covering events on the DP World, PGA, and LPGA tours along with the LIV Golf Series.
Ross holds a passionate interest in golf and tries to play as often as possible, although having two daughters under the age of 6 means his quest to break 80 will have to wait a little longer.
Despite first picking up a club aged 11, highlights are few and far between on the golf course.
An Eagle on the par-4 16th at Kinghorn is one that stands out (it doesn’t matter that it was only 290 yards).
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PGA Tour action returns to Utah at the Black Desert Championship.
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18 year old Kihei Akina will make his PGA Tour debut in Utah.
