The FedEx Cup Playoffs grind rolls on this week with the BMW Championship, and while World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is looking to defend his title, three-time winner Rory McIlroy is coming off a brutal performance where he only beat two players in Memphis.
Bellerive’s Brutal Setup Favors Golf’s Top Dog
We’re down to just 50 players after the St. Jude Championship chopped the field, and this week’s test at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis is no joke. This course, a par 70 that stretches just about 7,500 yards and designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., hasn’t seen a pro tournament since the 2018 PGA Championship. It’s built for big hitters and world-class ball strikers, which is basically a red carpet for Scottie Scheffler. The World No. 1 is just ridiculous right now, with 21 PGA Tour wins and four major championships under his belt. He’s literally surging at the perfect time and is looking to defend his BMW Championship title after outlasting Robert MacIntyre at Caves Valley last season. You gotta think he’s feeling good heading into a course designed for his game.
Rory’s Rust Is Real, But the Bubble’s About to Burst
On the flip side, what the heck is going on with Rory McIlroy? The three-time winner and Masters champion had head-scratching results in Memphis, only beating *two* players in his return to competition. He’s gotta use these next eight rounds at Bellerive to work out some serious kinks and rust, because that was not the Rory we know. At least he, along with Scheffler, has already locked up his spot in the Tour Championship. In fact, 22 of the 50 guys in this field are already set for East Lake, which is wild.
But for everyone else, it’s a straight-up dogfight. Data Golf says Viktor Hovland, at No. 22, has a 100% chance of making it to East Lake. Then you’ve got guys like Alex Smalley, Justin Rose, Ryan Fox, and Tom Kim all trailing Hovland but still sitting pretty with over an 80% shot. That percentage drops off a cliff after them, with Adam Scott being a big question mark despite his past play at Bellerive. Sungjae Im, at No. 40, was the only player to actually play himself into this BMW Championship last weekend. He’s just ahead of former BMW Championship winners Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay, and right behind PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai at No. 37. Guys like Kurt Kitayama, Bud Cauley, Rickie Fowler, and Gary Woodland are all right there, fighting to survive and move on. Every shot is going to matter big time.
This whole thing kicks off August 20th and runs through the 23rd. With only two tournaments left in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, every single swing at Bellerive means everything for these guys still fighting for a spot at East Lake. Get ready, because it’s gonna be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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