After 36 holes at Olympia Fields’ North Course near Chicago, time is running out for those angling to make the Tour Championship.
The BMW Championship is the second of three FedEx Cup Playoffs events but only the top 30 golfers will move on to East Lake Golf Club for the season finale. There are bragging rights when you make it to Atlanta but there’s also a whopping $18 million first-place prize at stake.
For each golfer who moves into the top 30, there has to be one falling out. Looking at the PGA Tour’s projected FedEx Cup standings after two rounds at the BMW, there are two of each.
Matt Fitzpatrick tees off from the second tee during the first round of the 2023 BMW Championship. (Photo: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports)
Matt Fitzpatrick is taking advantage of his big 26-spot jump, as he was 40th when the week started. He’s now in 14th thanks to an opening-round 66 followed by a 67.
Justin Rose throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field. (Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
Tuesday night, Rose was at Wrigley Field to throw out the first pitch. Maybe the Cubs gave him some good luck. Rose started the week in the No. 32 spot but opened his second round Friday with four straight birdies and closed with two more en route to a 65. He has shot up seven spots to No. 25.
Sepp Straka tees off from the third tee during the first round of the 2023 BMW Championship. (Photo: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports)
Straka was in the 24th spot heading to Chicago but rounds of 71 and 74 have done some damage, as he’s now 31st in the points.
Sam Burns follows his shot on the seventh hole during the second round of the 2023 BMW Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club. (Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The other guy going the wrong way is Sam Burns, who was the Bubble Boy at No. 30 but who is now No. 33 after two rounds at the BMW. There’s still time to reverse the trend but he only has 36 holes to do so.