The FedEx Cup playoffs’ numerical strategy persists as we approach the BMW Championship this week. The event in Colorado will feature just 50 competitors, set to be reduced to a mere 30 in the following Tour Championship. An impressive $100 million prize money awaits, of which the ultimate victor scores $25 million.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are among the golfers set to take on the BMW Championship at the Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, situated 2,000 meters above sea level. Both players are certain to advance to the subsequent Tour Championship in Atlanta, where the reward is a hefty sum of money.
Séamus Power, from Waterford, missed out on the event despite his best efforts. Despite Power’s superior performance at the St Jude Classic in Memphis among his compatriots, he failed to secure a spot within the top 50 that would have allowed him to progress to the BMW Championship.
Power ended up at 56th in the FedEx Cup, which did not afford his progression or guarantee entry to the PGA Tour signature competitions next year. His current standing nonetheless entitles him to a full tour card for next season, along with participation in The Players. Depending on his performance in the late-year FedEx Cup Fall Series, he might have a shot at competing in two signature events.
For McIlroy and Lowry, their performances in Memphis left much to improve. Still, their assured places in the Tour Championship and the potential $20 million prize in the BMW Championship urge them to enhance their FedEx Cup rankings. Currently, McIlroy holds the fifth position, while Scottie Scheffler leads the standings with Lowry at the 11th position.
Hideki Matsuyama climbed to third in the FedEx Cup rankings, with Scheffler and Xander Schauffele ahead, following his win at the St Jude Classic, despite a challenging last leg despite having a five-stroke advantage.
A question arose concerning the legitimacy of his measures to fix a pitch mark on the 12th green, which could have been a violation of Rule 8-1, prohibiting players from enhancing the lie. Gary Young, the main referee of PGA Tour, took an unusual step of personally speaking to the Japanese golfer on the course to discuss the matter.
He said, “I merely inquired ‘Hideki, regarding that hole’, he did remember advancing. I asked him what exactly he did and the reasons for doing so, he explained that he usually does this when there’s a pitch mark and he believed it was not in his line of play, hence why he stamped it down.
“After our conversation, I felt quite reassuring that he thought it was not in his line of play and then we obtained supporting video evidence from an alternative camera angle apparent of where he played his shot and where the pitch mark was. It was a good three feet apart.
“Some might argue ‘well, that’s quite close’. However, for such a short shot and one of the best golfers globally, it’s quite a tight space we’re referring to. Therefore, the committee was immensely comfortable with the decision,” Young communicated, deciding not to penalise Matsuyama.
Nevertheless, this episode seemed to unsettle him momentarily as his leading position dwindled and disappeared before closing with amazing consecutive birdies which put Matsuyama ahead of Schuaffele and Viktor Hovland once again.
“All they wanted was to verify that the rules were observed, which indeed, they were. And it didn’t impact me for the rest of the day. Had I been concerned that I had done something inappropriate, it would have unnerved me,” stated Matsuyama, whose victory and elevated points brought him nearer to Scheffler.
This week, on the DP World Tour, Tom McKibbin and Gary Hurley are the only Irish participants competing in the Danish Golf Championship. Meanwhile, seven Irish golfers – Conor Purcell, Alex Maguire, Jonathan Caldwell, Dermot McElroy, Ronan Mullarney, Conor O’Rourke and Mark Power – are taking part in the Indoor Golf Group Challenge in Sweden on the Challenge Tour.
For the final time this season, a Major for women’s golf is due to occur at St Andrews’ renowned old course, poised to stage the AIG Women’s Open. Among the participants are Leona Maguire and Lauren Walsh, a newcomer to the Ladies European Tour (LET).
In spite of not making the cut at the Scottish Open by a single stroke, Walsh has earned her first ever Major appearance through the established season qualification course. This provided her, and four other players who weren’t previously exempt, with the opportunity to compete at the AIG Women’s Open following the late-July cut-off point on the LET.