Sunday 61 Leads Hovland to Victory at the BMW Championship
With the PGA Tour season nearing an end, Olympia Fields played host to the BMW Championship this past week. As the penultimate event in the playoff race, it was the final chance for players to collect valuable points heading into the Tour Championship. The Tour Championship will feature the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings, with players starting at staggered scores dependent upon their point totals.
Heading into the final round at the BMW Championship world number one Scottie Scheffler looked poised to pick up his third win of the season and first since The Players Championship back in March. Scheffler has been a dominant force all season but has surprisingly gone the entire summer without a win, despite several high finishes. Starting the day three back was world number five Viktor Hovland. A final round 61, including a 28 on the back nine led Hovland to vault past Scheffler and claim his second win the in past few months. This win also sets Hovland up in second place in the FedEx Cup standings heading into the Tour Championship, where he will start two shots back of Scottie Scheffler – the season long points leader.
The Tour Championship will also feature a strong Canadian contingent with Corey Conners and Nick Taylor entering at 19th and 22nd in the point standings. Both winners on tour this year, qualifying for the Tour Championship will provide both players with several exemptions and benefits next seasons. The Tour Championship will also act as a showcase for players trying to earn a Captain’s picks into the Ryder Cup. The USA currently has six spots up for grabs with Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, and Xander Schauffele all securing their spots via qualification points. While the European side has three players locked in via points with Rory McIlroy, John Rahm, and Viktor Hovland. The European side will have three more players qualify over the next few weeks followed by six selections by Captain Luke Donald. Look for the American team to play as heavy favourites following their dominant win in 2021 at Whistling Straits.