Scheffler Dominates by Eight Strokes Entering BMW Championship at Bellerive

Scottie Scheffler leads the FedEx Cup field into St. Louis following an eight-stroke victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler secured an eight-stroke victory at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship. This dominant performance marked the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs and served as Scheffler's sixth tour victory of the 2025 season. He now heads to Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis for the BMW Championship, a tournament he previously won at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland. Viktor Hovland noted that Scheffler has rectified previous struggles on the greens, observing that the golfer currently lacks a visible weakness in his putting or long game.

The field in St. Louis consists of 50 golfers who have already secured eligibility for the eight signature events in 2027. Only the top 30 players in the standings following Sunday’s final round will progress to the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Those who advance earn a two-year PGA Tour exemption and entry into all four major championships next year. Additionally, the BMW Championship serves as the final qualifying event for the top six U.S. players for the Presidents Cup, scheduled for Sept. 24-27 at Medinah Country Club. Captain Brandt Snedeker will select six additional captain’s picks after the conclusion of the Tour Championship.

Fowler and Woodland Battle the Bubble

Rickie Fowler enters the week ranked 30th in FedEx Cup points, occupying the final transfer spot. Fowler’s season includes five top-10s and 10 top-25 finishes across 20 starts, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Truist Championship. He also recorded a tie for eighth at the RBC Heritage and two ties for ninth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Cadillac Championship. Currently ranked 44th in the Official World Golf Ranking, Fowler seeks to return to East Lake for the eighth time to secure a 2027 Masters invitation. He finished tied for 34th last week in Memphis following three consecutive top-20 results.

Gary Woodland sits just outside the qualifying line at 31st in the standings. Woodland needs a solo 48th-place finish or better this week to reach the Tour Championship for the first time since 2019. His season was defined by a victory at the Texas Children’s Houston Open on March 29, his fifth career title. This win occurred two years after brain surgery to remove a benign lesion and 20 days after Woodland revealed a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. The 42-year-old also earned a tie for seventh at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills among his four top-10 finishes this year.

Major Winners Seeking Atlanta Berths

Aaron Rai, the 37th-ranked player in the standings, became the first English-born golfer in 107 years to win the PGA Championship with his victory at Aronimink Golf Club. That win earned Rai $3.7 million and a five-year PGA Tour exemption. Despite a tie for 11th at the U.S. Open, Rai has struggled recently, missing three cuts since mid-June and finishing tied for 63rd at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. To advance to Atlanta, Rai must secure a solo 12th-place finish or better at Bellerive, as he has recently lost strokes on the greens.

Sungjae Im occupies the 40th spot after jumping 13 places with a tie for fifth last week. Im, who missed the start of the season due to a wrist injury suffered in South Korea, ranks 148th in strokes gained: approach with a -.505 average. He has qualified for the Tour Championship in all seven of his previous seasons on tour, a streak surpassed only by Rory McIlroy’s eight. Im requires a solo eighth-place finish or better this week to maintain that record and avoid missing the finale for the first time.

Cantlay and Thomas Face Must-Win Scenarios

Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas enter the week ranked 43rd and 44th, respectively. Both players require a solo seventh-place finish or better to qualify for the Tour Championship. Cantlay, 34, has not won since the 2022 BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club, where he defeated Scott Stallings by one stroke. He previously won the 2021 BMW Championship in a playoff against Bryson DeChambeau. Currently 17th in the U.S. Presidents Cup points standings, Cantlay holds a career 10-4 record in that event.

Justin Thomas is also fighting for a Presidents Cup spot, currently sitting 11th in points. Thomas underwent a microdiscectomy in November 2025 to address hip and leg pain. His season includes a tie for fourth at the PGA Championship and a tie for eighth at The Players, but he finished tied for 47th last week at TPC Southwind. Thomas has reached the Tour Championship in nine of the last 10 seasons and previously won the BMW Championship in 2019 at Medinah.