Jordan Smith capped his round at the Bank of Utah Championship with an albatross on the 18th hole, propelling him into a five-way tie for the lead at Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah. Starting his back nine on the 10th hole, Smith birdied Nos. 7 and 8 before lining up a 238-yard second shot on the par-5 18th after a 350-yard drive. His ball cleared a greenside bunker, rolled up to the cup, and dropped in for a rare two, marking the fifth albatross of the PGA Tour season.
Smith’s 8-under 63 gave him a strong position on the leaderboard as he eyed a climb inside the top 60 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, where he currently sits 69th. With the season winding down, every point matters for players aiming to secure their status for 2027. Smith watched from the sidelines as Brendon Todd and Mackenzie Hughes finished their rounds, knowing his spectacular finish had put him in contention.
The albatross was the first on tour since Davis Thompson recorded one during the third round of the Wyndham Championship. The PGA Tour noted Smith’s shot as a walk-off moment that will add to his highlight reel.
Meanwhile, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen faced a difficult day after opening with a double bogey and mixed scores through the front nine. Starting on the back nine, he was three over at the turn but his round unraveled with a double bogey on the second hole and a quintuple nine on the par-4 fifth. Illness forced Neergaard-Petersen to withdraw, marking the second withdrawal of the day and leaving 119 golfers to continue through Thursday and Friday.
Birdies and eagles were common on the Tom Weiskopf-designed course, but Smith’s closing albatross stood out as the defining moment of the day’s play. The shot put him alongside four other players tied for the lead, setting up a competitive weekend at the Bank of Utah Championship.
According to Yahoo Sports.
