In Castle Rock, Colo., the BMW Championship is underway, and players are vying for a spot in the 30-man field at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley are among those looking to make a big move this week. Scott believes that a top 5 finish at the BMW Championship may secure his spot, while Bradley, who made a significant jump in the rankings after the first round, acknowledges the pressure of trying to make the top 50.
Corey Conners, a player familiar with being on the bubble for the Tour Championship, shot a 68 on Thursday and is projected to move up to No. 20, solidifying his spot for the next round. Adam Scott, currently sitting at No. 41, shot a 4-under 68 in the first round, putting him in T-3 and projected to climb to No. 22. Scott acknowledges that he has been playing on the bubble all year and expects to be in a similar position this week.
Alex Noren, who started the week at No. 45, had a strong start with a T-3 finish after shooting 68. The 42-year-old Swede is aware that he needs a top finish to advance to the Tour Championship and is determined to make it happen. On the other hand, Brian Harman shot even-par 72 in the first round, dropping him from No. 29 to projected No. 31, just shy of making it to East Lake.
Denny McCarthy shot 1-under 71 but struggled with his putter, falling from No. 30 to No. 32 in the projected rankings, out of the cut line for the Tour Championship. Jason Day, who entered the week at No. 25, had a rough start with a 6-over 78, leaving him tied for last among the field and projected to drop to No. 35. Davis Thompson also struggled in the first round, shooting a 4-over 76 and projected to fall from No. 26 to No. 36, putting him out of the Tour Championship field.
Overall, the competition at the BMW Championship is intense as players battle to secure a spot in the 30-man field at the Tour Championship. Each stroke and position in the leaderboard can make a significant impact on a player’s chances of advancing. With the stakes high and the competition fierce, every player is giving their all to earn a ticket to Atlanta for the Tour Championship.
