BMW Championship Preview

August 20, 2024

By Carter Rennyson

The penultimate tournament of the 2024 PGA Tour season kicks off tomorrow at Castle Pines Golf Club, just outside Denver. This is the first PGA tournament in Colorado since 2014 and the first tournament at Castle Pines since 2006. The BMW Championship features the top 50 golfers in the FedEx Cup standings, who will play the longest course in Tour history, with Castle Pines stretching out to over 8,100 yards. While 8,100 yards may seem daunting, the altitude requires the course to be that long in order to host this prestigious championship.

In recent years, the BMW Championship has produced some miraculous finishes. Jon Rahm made a 66-foot putt to beat Dustin Johnson in a playoff in 2020, Patrick Cantlay defeated Bryson DeChambeau in a six-hole playoff the following year, and last year Viktor Hovland shot a back-nine 28 to edge out Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick. This year, Castle Pines promises another exciting finish, featuring a beautiful par-3 16th, a gettable par-5 17th, and a classic par-4 18th.

In terms of course experience, only one player has tournament experience at Castle Pines: Jason Day, who played there in 2006. Cherry Hills Country Club, another Denver-area course, hosted the 2014 BMW Championship, where Billy Horschel prevailed. Last year, Nick Dunlap won the U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills. These three players have experience playing at elevation, along with Denver native Wyndham Clark and Utah native Tony Finau. However, distance control and trajectory will be crucial for all players in the field this week.

Scottie Scheffler has dominated all of the ball-striking categories since ascending to No. 1 in the world two years ago. This course suits his game perfectly, as he excels at controlling the distance and spin of his iron shots. Scheffler is highly motivated to win the FedEx Cup Trophy after being surpassed in the playoffs in back-to-back years.

Xander Schauffele has had the best season of his career, currently sitting in second place in the FedEx Cup standings and winning two major championships this year. Schauffele and Scheffler are the two leading candidates for Player of the Year, and with a victory this week and next, Schauffele might be able to snatch the trophy from Scheffler.

Next week, the Tour Championship will feature the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings. Currently, several big names outside the top 30 will need to play their way into next week’s field. Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Will Zalatoris, Cameron Young, Adam Scott, Max Homa, and Nick Dunlap all need a strong performance this week to secure a spot at East Lake. Keep an eye on Cameron Young, who is still in search of his first PGA Tour victory. Perhaps he can earn his first win in the playoffs, as fellow Wake Forest alum Will Zalatoris did a few years ago at TPC Southwind.

Be sure to tune in this weekend to watch the top 50 players battle it out on the longest course in Tour history. Scottie Scheffler will try to continue his dominance as the world’s best player, while Xander Schauffele looks to build on his impressive breakout season. Meanwhile, several top players will attempt to qualify for the Tour Championship and keep their seasons alive.