BMW Championship 2024: The FedEx Cup race enters its final furlong in Colorado
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The top 50 golfers in the FedEx Cup standings descend – or rather, ascend – to Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado, located 6,500 feet above sea level for the BMW Championship.
The BMW Championship will determine the top 30 players who will make it to the Tour Championship at the end of the month, with an eye-watering $18m cheque awaiting the victor of the season-long FedEx Cup.
The tournament was previously known as the Western Open, staging its very first edition way back in 1899. The final edition took place in 2006 before the event changed its name to the BMW Championship as part of the newly established FedEx Cup playoffs.
Only the Open (1860) and the US Open (1895) started before the Western Open, signifying its status as one of the oldest and most historic events on the tour.
Last year, Victor Hovland won his fifth PGA Tour title by a margin of two strokes over Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick before securing the FedEx Cup title a week later by winning at East Lake to cap off a stunning season in America.
Where is the BMW Championship played?
Unlike the FedEx St. Jude Invitational or the Tour Championship, played at TPC Southwind and East Lake respectively, the second playoff event has been played across numerous venues. Since the tournament’s name change from the Western Open to its rebranding in 2007, ten courses have held 17 editions of the BMW Championship.
Medinah, Cherry Hills, Olympia Fields, and Bellerive Country Club – all previous US Open hosts – have all played host to the tournament in the past, but there will be a new venue for 2024.
Castle Pines Golf Club is the venue this year. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course is certainly no stranger to the PGA Tour, having previously hosted the International between 1986 and 2006. The event was unique in its stature as one of only two non-strokeplay events on the tour, adopting a Stableford scoring system instead.
Longer hitters will greatly benefit from the fact the course is located 6,500 feet above sea level, which means the ball will travel around 10% further at Castle Pines.
Opening with a 644-yard par-5 will give the players a chance at birdie, but they must avoid the three bunkers surrounding the green. The par-72, 7,619-yard layout offers a firm but fair challenge, with long hitters gaining an advantage.
What is the format of the BMW Championship?
The players will complete 72 holes of strokeplay at the BMW Championship, with the lowest score declared the winner. As per last week’s FedEx St. Jude Invitational, there’s no cut, meaning the 50-strong field will play all four rounds.
Who is in the field at the BMW Championship?
Following the conclusion of the FedEx St. Jude Invitational, only the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings will make it through to the BMW Championship.
Rory McIlroy has won the BMW Championship once before, back in 2012, and the Northern Irishman is in contention to win his fourth FedEx Cup title, which would be double that of Tiger Woods – the only other player to have won multiple FedEx Cups.
Of course, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler – holders of three of the four Major Championships in 2024 – currently stand in his way, but could there perhaps be a surprise winner further down the rankings?
Ludvig Aberg has enjoyed a consistent debut season on the tour, missing just two cuts stateside, and finishing in the top ten seven times. Collin Morikawa, too, has enjoyed a return to form with one runner-up finish, along with securing 14 top-25 finishes in just 18 tour events. He is overdue a big title.
How much will the winner of the BMW Championship receive?
Like the FedEx St. Jude Invitational last week, the second playoff event has a total prize fund of $20 million, with the winner taking home a cheque for $4 million and 2,000 FedEx Cup points.
Who has won the BMW Championship?
| Year | Winner | Winners share ($) | Course |
| 2023 | Viktor Hovland | 3,600,000 | Olympia Fields |
| 2022 | Patrick Cantlay | 2,700,000 | Wilmington |
| 2021 | Patrick Cantlay | 1,710,000 | Caves Valley |
| 2020 | Jon Rahm | 1,710,000 | Olympia Fields |
| 2019 | Justin Thomas | 1,665,000 | Medinah |
| 2018 | Keegan Bradley | 1,620,000 | Aronimink |
| 2017 | Marc Leishman | 1,575,000 | Conway Farms |
| 2016 | Dustin Johnson | 1,530,000 | Crooked Stick |
| 2015 | Jason Day | 1,485,000 | Conway Farms |
| 2014 | Billy Horschel | 1,440,000 | Cherry Hills |
How to watch the BMW Championship?
Viewers in the UK can watch the BMW Championship on Sky Sports Golf.
All times BST
Thursday, August 22: Sky Sports Golf, 19.00
Friday, August 23: Sky Sports Golf, 19.00
Saturday, August 24: Sky Sports Golf, 19.00
Sunday, August 25: Sky Sports Golf, 19.00
Viewers in the US can watch all the action via the Golf Channel.
All times MDT
Thursday, August 22: Golf Channel, 15.00
Friday, August 23: Golf Channel, 15.00
Saturday, August 24: Golf Channel, 13.00
Sunday, August 25: Golf Channel, 12.00
BMW Championship: Tee times and groupings
Tee times and pairings for rounds 3 & 4 can be found here.
About the Author
Ross Kilvington – Contributing Golf News Writer
Ross Kilvington is a freelance writer from Scotland who currently writes previews for Today’s Golfer, covering events on the DP World, PGA, and LPGA tours along with the LIV Golf Series.
Ross holds a passionate interest in golf and tries to play as often as possible, although having two daughters under the age of 6 means his quest to break 80 will have to wait a little longer.
Despite first picking up a club aged 11, highlights are few and far between on the golf course.
An Eagle on the par-4 16th at Kinghorn is one that stands out (it doesn’t matter that it was only 290 yards).
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The BMW Championship welcomes the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings
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Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado is host to the 2024 BMW Championship
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Ludvig Aberg, Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy all line up for the second playoff event at Castle Pines
