BMW Championship Underway: Scheffler Leads Strong Field at Bellerive

The BMW Championship, the second event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, is being held this week at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri. A field of 50 of the PGA Tour's top players will compete, all aiming to secure a spot in the season-ending Tour Championship. Only the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings after Sunday's final round at Bellerive will advance to East Lake.

Scottie Scheffler enters the tournament as a significant favorite, following his dominant eight-stroke victory in the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Scheffler, the world No. 1 and current FedEx Cup standings leader, is priced at +310 (FanDuel). Other prominent players in the field include Rory McIlroy, listed at +1800 (Bovada), Xander Schauffele at +1800 (Bovada), and Tommy Fleetwood at +2200 (FanDuel). Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick are both available at +2000 (Bovada) and +2200 (Bovada) respectively, while Collin Morikawa is priced at +4000 (Bovada).

Course Insights and Player Strategies

Bellerive Country Club, a par-70 course measuring 7,448 yards, has undergone some modifications since it last hosted a major event in 2018. All bunkers have been renovated with bentgrass, and an additional 130 yards have been added across six holes. While fairways are generally generous, many feature substantial sloping that can direct balls towards rough and hazards. Players who can combine distance off the tee with accuracy are expected to have an advantage, though clubbing down for more precise approach shots remains a viable strategy.

The BMW Championship offers a substantial prize fund, with a total purse of $20 million. The winner will receive $3.6 million, representing 18 percent of the total prize money. Beyond the financial reward, the primary objective for players is to advance to the Tour Championship, where the FedEx Cup champion will claim a $10 million bonus from a $40 million purse.

Among the early considerations for value, former FedEx Cup champion Viktor Hovland is noted as a strong fit for Bellerive, demonstrating solid approach play and confident putting in recent rounds. Hovland is currently available at +3000 (Bovada).