PGA TOUR
BMW Championship
Cantlay Wins BMW Championship
Patrick Cantlay grafted another stoic performance to claim the BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club in Delaware. The 30-year-old American narrowly overcame Scott Stallings by one shot. Cantlay becomes the first player to defend a FedExCup PlayOff event in history after winning the event in 2021.
Cantlay held a one-shot lead going into the final round over Stallings and compatriot Xander Schauffele. The world No. 4 fell two shots off the pace after producing his second bogey on Sunday at the 10th hole. Cantlay, who is the reigning FedExCup champion, remained cool over the final stretch pouring in three unanswered birdies to sign for a final round 2-under 69 and reach 14-under for the event. His stunning birdie at the 17th hole gave him a one-shot buffer into the 72nd hole. He secured his eighth win on the PGA Tour with a solid par at the last hole. It was Cantlay’s 11th top 10 of the PGA Tour season—the most by any player.
Stallings was the event’s surprise! The 37-year-old American had not won a PGA Tour event in 227 starts (2014 Farmers Insurance Open) and was trying to make it to the TOUR Championship for the first time in his 15-year professional career. Stallings, ranked 106 in the world, gave a solid final round effort with four birdies and two bogeys for a 2-under 69 to finish at 13-under in solo second place.
Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele claimed a share of third place at 11-under. Scheffler signed for a final round 1-under 70. Schauffele gave an even par performance.
Australia’s Adam Scott came to the final hole needing a par to secure his place in the FedExCup final next week at East Lake. If he made a bogey, Shane Lowry would have replaced the Queenslander at the lucrative event. Scott’s chances look dicey when he found a greenside bunker with his second shot. However, the former Masters Champion played a pressure bunker shot for a tap in par. The clutch up & down robbed Lowry of his first trip to the TOUR Championship in his ninth year on the PGA Tour. Scott carded an even par final round to finish in a tie for fifth place. The former world No. 1 joins Cam Smith as the only two Australians to make the TOUR Championship.
Scheffler is the top seed heading into the PGA Tour’s season-ending event at East Lake. The world No. 1 is followed by Patrick Cantlay, Will Zalatoris, Scott Stallings and Xander Schauffele. Australia’s Cam Smith is the 7th seed.
Joohyung Kim, Davis Riley, Kevin Kisner and JJ Spaun will miss the FedExCup finale in Atlanta after starting the BMW Championship in the top 30. Aaron Wise, KH Lee, Adam Scott and Scott Stallings replace the quartet in the premier event staged at East Lake.
The PGA Tour moves to Atlanta, Georgia for the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Just 30 players will make the field for the PGA Tour’s season ending FedExCup event and have the chance to bank the massive US$15million bonus for winning the FedExCup. Patrick Cantlay is the reigning FedExCup champion.
Final Scores
BMW Championship
1. Patrick Cantlay -14
2. Scott Stallings -13
T3. Scottie Scheffler -11
T3. Xander Schauffele -11
T5. KH Lee -10
T5. Adam Scott -10
T5. Corey Conners -10
T8. John Rahm -9
T8. Rory McIlroy -9
T8. Taylor Pendrith -9
T8. Joaquin Niemann -9
Other Australians
T15. Lucas Herbert
T28. Marc Leishman
T35. Cam Davis
Photo credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
