By the time the PGA Tour playoff schedule progresses to the BMW Championship, things have already gotten exciting. It takes a lot of great playing all season long to make it to the BMW Championship.
However, the stakes are still high at the BMW to have enough points to make it to the final playoff event, the Tour Championship.
If you want to give yourself that insider feel at the BMW Championship, here is what you should know about the event and the players before you make your picks.
How Does Betting Change During the Playoffs?
Golf playoffs are a lot like the majors. Players are under a good amount of pressure and this of course leads to some ups and downs.
Scottie Scheffler is already being quoted as saying he’s not really a fan of this playoff series. He mentioned it's a difficult way to really tell who is the best golfer of the year.
He may have a point, but it makes the FedEx Cup playoffs much more exciting for everyone watching.
When betting on these FedEx Cup events, you must closely examine the standings and how they have changed throughout the year. Players near the top are going to play a bit more
conservative and their position.
Those right on the edge of qualifying for the final event may get more aggressive. At this stage in the game, somebody like Scottie doesn’t need to get all that aggressive.
Course-Specific Betting Tips: Castle Pines Golf Club
The course being played at the BMW Championship is Castle Pines. One of the key factors you are going to see is the increase in elevation and the changes that have on ball flight.
Golfers will be getting much more distance, but at the same time, some of the shots can be harder to control.
If you can find some players near the top of the list that are good at adapting to various conditions or know how to play from higher elevation, they may be a better bet.
With this course the fairways are narrow and there are a lot of elevation changes. Strategic play and precision are going to be more important than pure power. You’ll see golfers who can dial in yardages like Collin Morikawa be able to thrive if he is having a good week.
Take a look at golfers' stats for the season and pay close attention to accuracy off the tee and iron plan, as these will be important at Castle Pines.
BMW Championship Top Contenders
Now that you know better what to expect from the course and the format let’s look at a few of the top contenders for the BMW Championship.
Scottie Scheffler
The odds will be in Scottie Scheffler's favor throughout the entire playoff season. He has 6 wins this season, and although that’s not quite like a Tiger season, it’s been impressive and fun to watch. The good thing about Scottie is we know he can hold up well under pressure.
Rory McIlroy
Rory plays well in playoff events. He hits the ball a long way, but that may or may not help him at Castle Pines. It’s going to be more about the control because of the extra carry yardage the elevation already provides.
Xander Schauffle
When you look for consistency and reliability in a bet, Xander is your guy. He finally broke through this year and won two majors.
Collin Morikawa
As mentioned earlier, Morikawa's iron play will make him someone to watch at Castle Pines. He is a strategic player, and although he has no wins this year, he has 7 top-10 finishes. Everybody talks about his iron play, but he’s 4th on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy.
Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay has four top-10 finishes in 2024. He’s had some great rounds of golf this season but hasn’t put together the tournament finishes that we usually expect from him. It could be time for him to claim another victory.
Conclusion
The BMW Championship is a unique golf betting opportunity. You’ll get to watch golfers finish at the St.Jude and then see who has the momentum going into the BMW Championship.
You have to remember at this event, it’s not just about winning; some golfers are working on making their way to the tour championship.
Remember to look at course conditions, player stats, and overall attitudes and comments from the players when making your final selections.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
