BMW Championship Round 1: Woodland Leads as FedEx Cup Race Intensifies

The BMW Championship is underway at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, marking the second stage of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. With only 50 players in the field and a cut to the top 30 for the Tour Championship, early performances are critical for those on the bubble and contenders alike. Gary Woodland established an early clubhouse lead, posting a 3-under 67 in his opening round, placing him three shots ahead of several players. Woodland is currently priced at +1600 (Bovada) to win outright.

Among those making an early move was Justin Thomas, who also carded a 3-under 67. Thomas entered the week at No. 44 in the FedEx Cup standings, needing a strong showing to advance. His preparation for the event was reportedly challenging, with an extra practice day earlier in the week leaving him in a negative mental state. Despite this, his opening round, which included four birdies on the back nine, positioned him well. Thomas is currently available at +4500 (FanDuel).

FedEx Cup Implications

The pressure of the FedEx Cup standings is a significant narrative at Bellerive. Rickie Fowler, who started the week at No. 30 in the standings, finds himself in a precarious position after an opening 1-over-par 71. This suboptimal start puts him in danger of falling outside the top 30 and missing the Tour Championship. Fowler's current outright odds are +500000 (Bovada), reflecting his challenging path forward.

In contrast, Collin Morikawa, ranked No. 9 in the FedEx Cup before the event, appears to be in a comfortable position to advance. He opened with a 2-under 68, placing him four strokes off the lead. Morikawa's round featured five birdies against three bogeys, and he is priced at +6500 (Bovada) for the tournament win. His strong standing means he likely only needs to avoid a significant collapse to secure his spot in Atlanta.

The playoff format itself has also been a topic of discussion. Matt Fitzpatrick, priced at +1000 (FanDuel), questioned the necessity of the playoffs, suggesting that the player who performs best throughout the entire season, from January to the Tour Championship, should be crowned the FedEx Cup champion. He specifically mentioned Scottie Scheffler as fitting this description, given his consistent performance. Scheffler, the current FedEx Cup points leader, is listed at +6000 (FanDuel).