As one of only two men to qualify for each edition of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, Adam Scott’s path to the top of the leaderboard at the 2022 BMW Championship has been an unusual one. Entering the post-season safely on the bubble, the Australian finished third in the top five of the season at the St. Jude to extend the post-season period and roll into the Philadelphia area playing with house money.
He put those chips to good use through the first two rounds at Wilmington Country Club. Scott leads solo at 8th ahead of some big names. Registering in rounds 65-69, the former Masters champion is already the only man to hit double digits below par, although his 17th hole double on Friday saw the contract lead. his from three sticks into one.
Ultimately, it can prove to be expensive. Only 7 years behind Scott are Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Corey Conners and Jordan Spieth. Scheffler was named Player of the Year; Young the Rookie of the Year; As one of the best leading strikers on the Tour; and Spieth is the last wildcard, almost making him the most dangerous.
One stroke behind them were a host of equally tough pursuers, including defending champion Patrick Cantlay and two-time FedEx Cup champion Rory McIlroy, both of whom hit 67 consecutive rounds.
However, to say that this league will go down for such a small group would be irresponsible; half the field is now within six times of the leader. Set to reflect the drama of the St. Jude, the BMW Championship is still anyone’s game with 36 holes to play.
Leader
1. Adam Scott (-9)
The 42-year-old has only attended the most important tournaments in 2022, mainly playing in groundbreaking events and major championships. However, the end of his schedule was on purpose, as he entered the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the Wyndham Championship in preparation for a playoff spot. It has proven to be a good idea; Scott is predicted to rise to third in the FedEx Cup standings with a win at Wilmington CC. Although it’s been a while since he’s been in contention, the way he’s been able to use the broomstick not just twice, but throughout the year, will inspire leadership.
“I feel really in control today. When you play that way, it can always be better, and a poor shot at 17 is quite expensive,” Scott said. “It was a good reminder for the weekend that I really had to control it and didn’t want too many people off the map and out of place around here. But I kept it in place very well both. day and have a lot of good looks and have been flying there for a while. But I’m in great shape going into the weekend. I don’t even know the last time I led a tournament.”
Other candidates
T2. Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Jordan Spieth and Corey Conners (-7)
T6. Cam Davis, Scott Stallings, Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay (-6)
T11. Aaron Wise, Joaquin Niemann, Hideki Matsuyama, Harold Varner III, Kurt Kitayama and Shane Lowry (-5)
The man who has entered the period after topping the FedEx Cup standings has some work to do if he wants to return to the lead ahead of the Tour Championship. Alongside his good friend and current FedEx Cup leader, Will Zalatoris, Scheffler is now predicted to reclaim the No. 1 spot and start next week at East Lake with the lead.
While it has become customary to see Scheffler’s name above the rest, this summer hasn’t come without a few hiccups. He entered the week after a miss at the St. Jude, where he looks lost with the putter in hand. This is a common theme in Scheffler’s poor performances. He has lost the pitch on the pitch in seven of his last nine starts, including his last four tournaments. Halfway through, masters the champion is fourth in strokes reached when placed, and if he can continue this way, he has a realistic chance of winning his fifth of the season.
“I definitely want to win again for sure. I want to win every week I tee off, so this week is definitely no different,” Scheffler said. “I’ve put myself in a good position. Obviously, I want to go a little further on the leaderboard, but overall, we’ll see how the score plays out this afternoon, but I’m sure. There’s going to be a good match chance at the weekend.”
Captain Trevor Immelman stared intently
Unlike Team USA, whose all but 12 members are selected for next month’s Presidents Cup, the leadership of Team International has a much tougher decision to make. With qualifying for the team event culminating in the BMW Championship, captain Immelman will be tasked with selecting four more players to go with the eight automatic qualifiers.
There are several directions he can envision for “Hollow”. Bombers Cam Davis, Lucas Herbert and Taylor Pendrith are on the outside looking in and some of the better players of the potential selection team. Then you have the veteran presence of Marc Leishman, or perhaps Jason Day, who isn’t on the field this week. Youth or experience – or a combination of the two – is Immelman’s ultimate choice, but he must be pleased with how his team has completed the form with 12 international men in six times. Scott’s lead.
Is there another dramatic ending looming?
The BMW Championship has a way of creating heart-pounding final moments over the past few seasons. With knockouts needed in three of the last four years, the composition of the standings has a chance to forge a similar finish. Last year, Patrick Cantlay and Bryson DeChambeau beat it in a six-hole playoff in front of a rowdy Baltimore crowd.
While there were no crowds at Olympia Fields, one can only imagine the uproar that followed when Jon Rahm buried a 60-foot birdie effort on the first playoff hole to beat Dustin Johnson in 2020. Fans will multiply over the weekend, and with a giant out-of-the-stand construction at the end of Wilmington CC will provide an atmosphere normally reserved for major championships.
“The crowds have been great all week,” McIlroy said. “It’s clearly a big golf tournament coming up in Delaware. I’m not sure if it’s the last time it’s happened or it’s been a long time. So it’s great to see the crowd here and very excited. excited to watch us play.”
2022 BMW Championship updated with odds and selection
- Scottie Scheffler: 9/2
- Rory McIlroy: 13/2
- Cameron Young: 8-1
- Adam Scott: 17/2
- Jordan Spieth: 10-1
- Xander Schauffele: 11-1
- Patrick Cantlay: 11-1
- Corey Conners: 12-1
- Orange Davis: 22-1
- Joaquin Niemann: 25-1
- Shane Lowry: 35-1
- Hideki Matsuyama: 35-1
- Scott Stallings: 35-1
- Aaron Wise: 35-1
- Sam Burns: 35-1
Young, Niemann and Collin Morikawa are all potential winners. All else considered, there is still faith in these three players, especially Young, who is third on the court in terms of strokes from tee to green. So far, the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year has been stellar and, without Friday’s lousy performance, it would have been a single lead.
If you’re looking for a little extra juice for your grater, it’s hard to take a look at what Morikawa is up to. Going back to “Old Collin” when he introduced it on Thursday, the two-time major winner was awesome with his iron and scary with his putter. Despite his shortcomings on the green, he was just five strokes behind the lead and was scored at 60-1.
