Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club in the FedEx Cup Playoffs on the PGA Tour.
Table of Contents
where to see
Live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm Thursday
best bets
Jon Rahm
3 points a stretch 14-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
Sunjae Im
2 points each way 25-1 Betfair, Betfred, Paddy Power
Cameron Young
1 point per stretch 25-1 General
Corey Conners
1 point per stretch 55-1 bet365
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Tour championship and a chance to compete for an $18 million first prize is just a week away, but this isn’t the time for anyone in the FedEx Cup playoffs, it is at BMW – Taking the championship easy.
A total of 68 players arrive in the unfamiliar surroundings of Wilmington Country Club, knowing that only the top 30 will make it to next week’s big showdown at East Lake.
And even if they’re comfortably within that line, there will be a handicap system next week, so the equation is simple – the better you play in Delaware, the better your chances of landing a record payday.
Ian Wilkerson’s insider tip
Jon Rahm 14-1
This is the first time the Wilmington Country Club has hosted a professional event, but as this is a Robert Trent Jones-designed course that underwent a major refurbishment after a tornado a few years ago, it should be worth attending Looking at players who are prone to finding the right areas off the tee.
It looks set to be a strong all-round test and one player who should approach the task with some fire in his stomach is former world number one Jon Rahm.
It cannot be considered a stellar year on the court for the Spaniard, whose only win came at the Low-Grade Mexican Open.
But the quality of his ball strikes may not have been rewarded with results, and he has the right ingredients to make a strong push for glory on Sunday as the top player in shots – both off the tee and fourth from both tee-to-green as well as in Greens in Regulation (GIR).
The motivation should be there too as he finds himself 14th in the FedEx rankings so now is the time to put himself in a great position like Will Zalatoris did last week when he was post winning at the FedEx St Jude invitation.
Rahm’s fifth place finish at the TPC Southwind was his best finish in a while, and devotees of the ‘diaper factor’ can point to the recent birth of his second son for inspiration.
However, it would be easier to conclude that the ingredients have always been there and cream just seems to peak at the right time.
Next best bet
Sungjae Im 25-1
Another player quietly going about his business is South Korean Sungjae Im, who travels to Wilmington in excellent shape.
The 25-year-old finished second at both the 3M Open and the Wyndham Championship before finishing a respectable 12th last week when he broke back with a Saturday 63 after a difficult start at Southwind.
I’m a consistent performer, ranking ninth in the GIR from tee to green, tee and ninth in the GIR, and he’s also just outside the top ten so the motivation will be there to put on a big show to put on a get a decent grade next week.
Other selection
Cameron Young 25-1
Corey Conner’s 55-1
Cameron Young is on the verge of becoming PGA Tour Rookie of the Year and now that Zlatoris has broken his duck many will be eyeing him as the next potential first winner.
Signs suggest they may not have to wait long and it was particularly heartening to see the 25-year-old from upstate New York finish second at the Rocket Mortgage Classic just two weeks after beating Cameron Smith at the Open Championship put under so much pressure.
Young was 31st last week but that didn’t really tell the whole story as there were signs of life with an opening 67 and closing 66 at Southwind.
It might just be a case of putting it all together for a player who is second from the tee and 13th from the tee on the green.
The battle for FedEx points isn’t the only competition taking place this week, as there’s also secondary consideration for Presidents Cup spots up for grabs.
The United States meets an international team in Quail Hollow next month, and the top eight ranked after this week’s tournament will be there.
Canadian Corey Conners is 6th in the list for Trevor Immelmans Internationals and he also has the motivation to be 30th in the FedEx list.
The quality of his all-around game – 14th tee-to-green, 4th off-the-tee, 3rd in GIR – indicates a strong show, although his sixth-place finish at his Home Opens is the only top-ten which he has booked since the Masters in April.
A 71 in the second round killed his chances last week, but his other three rounds were solid as he finished 28th, allowing him to get into the picture.
players to consider
JustinThomas
Played at the 2013 Palmer Cup while in college, which is rare in this field. Closed with a 66 for 13th on Sunday so could build on that.
Tony Finau
Two straight wins has seen him break free of the bridesmaid mark and he followed up those wins with fifth place in Southwind last week so he remains in great shape.
Collin Morikawa
His fifth-place finish last week was a boost after a disappointing defense of his Open championship and he has the ball-power to be a factor again this week.
Wilmington Country Club Course Guide
course Wilmington Country Club (South Course), Wilmington, Delaware
prize money $15 million ($2.7 million for the winner)
length 7,534 meters
par 71 – four par threes, 11 par fours, three par fives
Set up 69
Highest ranking players in the field (world rankings in brackets – Scottie Scheffler (1), Cameron Smith (2), Rory McIlroy (3), Patrick Cantlay (4), Jon Rahm (5), Xander Schauffele (6)
tournament format The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings have qualified for this week, and the top 30 here will advance to next week’s Tour Championship. There will be no cut this week. The tournament is also the final opportunity for US and international players to automatically qualify for their respective Presidents Cup teams, which will go head-to-head in Quail Hollow next month.
when to bet Thursday until 2.15 p.m
when to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm
time difference Delaware is five hours behind Great Britain and Ireland
Last week – FedEx St Jude Championship 1 W Zalatoris 25-1 2 S Straka 500-1, T3 L Glover 250-1, B Harman 125-1, T5 A Scott 100-1, J Rahm 20-1, C Morikawa 33-1, T Finau 22-1 , M Fitzpatrick 22-1, A Putnam 250-1, T Mullinax 250-1.
Course Overview This is the first time the Wilmington Country Club has been used for a PGA Tour event, having hosted amateur championships including the 2013 Collegiate Palmer Cup when Justin Thomas was a member of the winning US team.
It was designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1959, but the holes were arranged differently than members would normally play. After a tornado felled 300 trees in 2020, extensive renovations took place and badly damaged bunkers and sand traps now guard many of the potential landing sites. The fairways and greens are both bentgrass.
Players face a difficult finish with a par 3 15 that can be played for 234 yards and is guarded by plenty of water. The par 4 of 16 could be driveable if the organizers decide to move the tee shot forward.
history of the past year Patrick Cantlay defeated Bryson DeChambeau on the sixth hole of their mammoth playoff at Caves Valley, Maryland
weather forecast Players are expected to welcome bright skies and warm temperatures for the first two days, but rain is expected over the weekend.
Player type suited to the challenge This is quite a long test, but accurate driving might prove more important than sheer power, as finding the necessary landing spots is likely to be crucial. While a decent distance off the tee shouldn’t hurt, this unfamiliar test should be enjoyed by solid tee-to-green players
key attribute accuracy
Spotlight insight Three of the last four BMW Championships went into the playoffs
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FIRST RELEASE ON AUGUST 16, 2022 AT 12:20 PM