Seasons go on the line at this week’s BMW Championship with 20 players fighting to stay in the Fed-Ex Cup, while qualification for the prestigious Ryder Cup concludes after the final round at Olympia Fields.
Four US points-based spots are still available in the penultimate FedEx Cup playoff event where $20 million (A$31m) will be handed out, along with 30 spots in the Tour Championship in Atlanta, where the winner alone pockets a massive $18 million (A$28m).
That has added to the tension in suburban Chicago, where Ryder Cup points and captain’s picks hopefuls need to shine along with those ranked 31-50 in the Fed-Ex Cup standings.
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“We have so much at stake these next two weeks, whether it’s money, Ryder Cup,” US standout Keegan Bradley said.
“There’s so much to play for, and that’s really exciting.”
World number one Scottie Scheffler, last year’s Masters champion, and reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark are the only players who have clinched Ryder Cup spots on points for next month’s showdown against Europe in Italy.
Currently in the other four Ryder Cup spots are fourth-ranked Patrick Cantlay, the two-time defending BMW champion; British Open champion Brian Harman, LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka, who won his fifth major at May’s PGA Championship, and Max Homa.
Among those chasing at this week’s 50-player event with a chance to bump into the Ryder Cup line-up are reigning Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, two-time major winners Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas, 2022 British Open runner-up Cameron Young, 2011 PGA Championship winner Bradley and 2009 US Open champion Lucas Glover, who won the past two PGA Tour events.
Glover clinches playoff win at St. Jude | 01:18
“I’ve never made it and I want to,” Glover said of the Ryder Cup. “That was a goal from the day I turned pro back in 2001.”
US captain Zach Johnson will name his six picks after the Tour Championship.
Asked if he would pick himself with his hot form, 43-year-old Glover said, “Playing pretty good golf and I think I’d be pretty good in the team room and be a good partner, so yeah absolutely I would.”
Bradley, 37, played on the 2012 and 2014 losing Ryder Cup teams. “I would really like to be on a winning Ryder Cup team someday,” he said. “I think about the Ryder Cup every second I’m awake basically.
“I feel like I could bring some experience to the team. I feel like I could be a good partner to a lot of guys.”
Cantlay, third in points to all-but seal his spot in Italy, trusts Johnson to sort out what this week doesn’t solve.
“There’s no one more capable of making educated picks than him,” Cantlay said. “This go-around seems like it’s maybe tougher than years past. There’s a lot of horses for a limited amount of slots. It’s going to be a tough set of picks. I trust him. He’s going to do a great job.”
‘Pi** off’ – Cam celebrates win in style | 00:36
In the FedEx Cup playoff chase, reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm of Spain remains the points leader ahead of Scheffler. That would give Rahm a two-stroke edge at the start of the Tour Championship at East Lake if he can stay in front this week.
“Point of coming to the playoffs is to give yourself the best chance to get to East Lake on the number one spot,” Rahm said. “I’ve done a pretty good job so far. Hopefully this week I can have a good performance and give myself the best shot.”
Only two Australians remain in the Fed-Ex Cup: Jason Day and Cameron Smith.
Day is poised to reach the Tour Championship for the first time since 2018, heading into the BMW Championship with a nine-spot buffer to the drop zone.
Sydneysider Davis, meanwhile, will need a big result having been one of just two players — the other being Hideki Matsuyama — to play himself into the BMW Championship at last week’s St Jude.
Davis moved from No.62 to No.45 by finishing T6 at TPC Southwind, which followed T7 at the Wyndham Championship and T10 at the 3M Open.
At minimum, Davis needs to come solo sixth to qualify for the Tour Championship.
“I’ve found myself in this sort of situation quite a few times now through my career, whether it was my first year getting on to the PGA TOUR and losing my card and having to play a great nine holes to finish the Korn Ferry Tour Finals just to get my card back, to playing in a playoff,” Davis said.
“I feel like when it is kind of a do-or-die situation, some of the inhibitor actually is taken off in my brain, I feel like … in that sort of headspace, I feel like I’ve played a lot of really good golf to keep my career pressing forward.”
Also on the bubble of being eliminated are major winners Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick and Matsuyama.
HOW TO WATCH
Coverage starts on Kayo and Fox Sports 503 with featured groups from 12am Friday (AEST).
Main coverage begins at 4am (AEST).