Written By: Aidan Mastandrea
Only 50 players made the trip to Maryland to tee it up in the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup playoffs. With points, millions of dollars, and a trophy on the line, players still face pressure despite already reaping the rewards that come with solidifying themselves in the top-50. As the season winds down, the final stretch creates different challenges for every player. With that, many of the names near the top of the leaderboard after Round 1 of the BMW Championship find themselves with different mindsets, all while still aiming for the same goal – a win or a trip to the Tour Championship.
Michael Kim
Michael Kim – 44th in the Fedex Cup rankings – had never made it to the BMW Championship prior to this season. After a flurry of great finishes to start the season, he put himself in a position to make a run at the tour championship. Despite reaching the top-50 threshold, guaranteeing his spot in next year’s “signature events,” but Kim still wants more.
“One of Sean [Foley] tag lines I think was grateful but not satisfied,” said Kim. “That’s kind of the approach I’m taking this week.”
Kim fired off a two-under round of 68 on Thursday
Viktor Hovland
It is a different situation for the 2023 FedEx Cup champion. Viktor Hovland sat at 28th in the rankings heading into the week, just two spots safe of the cutline into East Lake, having never missed the Tour Championship in his five year career on the PGA Tour. While in a position where he needs to play well to continue that streak, his mindset remains the same.
“If I play halfway decent, that top 30 shouldn’t be an issue. Just trying not to lose my mind out there if it goes south,” Hovland said. “Try to mitigate it a little bit and try to just plug along and keep it going.”
Hovland shot an even-par 35 going out at the BMW Championship, but followed that up with three birdies on the back to vault to three-under-par.
Ben Griffin
Ben Griffin is in the midst of his best season to date and finds himself deep in Ryder Cup talks. With the Ryder Cup just weeks away and some Americans still jockeying for a chance at a spot, Griffin is not letting that affect his mindset this week. Griffin continued his great play with an opening round three-under 67.
“Now everything I do out here on TOUR, it feels like just icing on the cake, and I just try to go out each day and just try to play my best and try to honestly get in the mix and win,” Griffin said. “I don’t feel any pressure to make that team. I feel like I’m just trying to go out there and just prove to myself that I can compete in the playoffs and can make it to the TOUR Championship and have a good chance to win, and if everything works out, hopefully be on that team in September, and I feel like from a confidence standpoint, I definitely feel like I’m one of the best U.S. players in the world.”
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy has taken a vastly different approach than his peers to the playoffs this year. After skipping the first leg in Memphis completely, McIlroy said: ” I feel like I’m in a little bit of a different position than some of the guys,” as he prepares for a jam-packed world-wide schedule in the fall.
With the Tour Championship “starting stroke” format being axed by the PGA Tour, McIlroy does not have to worry about positioning heading into East Lake. He is already locked into a top-30 position and once he gets there will undoubtedly be one of the favorites. The new format however does slightly change things for McIlroy.
“I guess you’re just not looking at the leaderboards as much because it obviously doesn’t really matter heading into next week where you are,” said McIlroy.
His even-par round of 70 was by no means flawless, but with three rounds to go, McIlroy is surely in the mix, regardless of whether or not it matters for him a week from now.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler just snuck into the BMW Championship, finding himself sitting at 48th in the standings. In a position similar to that of Michael Kim, the goal of getting into next year’s signature events was already accomplished but Fowler is aiming towards a victory this week.
“Every time you fall short, you’re always disappointed as a golfer,” Fowler said.
It was four birdies in a five hole stretch that helped power Fowler to a three-under-par round of 67.