FedExCup update: Last man in Keegan Bradley makes it count at BMW Championship

CASTLE PINES VILLAGE, Colo. – Keegan Bradley was holed up in his hotel room like some kind of stressed-out day trader as he waited in agonizing limbo, everything hanging in the balance.

A trip to this week’s top-50 BMW Championship outside Denver.

Guaranteed starts in all eight Signature Events for 2025.

“I had the FedExCup standings, the coverage on, the featured holes, my phone,” Bradley said after carding a 6-under 66 to take the early first-round lead at the BMW Championship. “I had it all going.”

After enduring “one of the toughest afternoons of my PGA TOUR career” on Sunday, he learned he had landed at 50th in the FedExCup standings, earning the last spot in the field for the BMW Championship. He had it all going in a different way at Castle Pines on Thursday, making six birdies, no bogeys, and is projected to move from 50th to fourth in the FedExCup standings.

“I just felt a lot calmer today,” Bradley said. “But I played really, really well.”

He was the biggest mover as players jockey for position heading into next week’s TOUR Championship at East Lake.

Bradley, whose six PGA TOUR wins include the 2018 BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, had an additional reason why he was pining to make the top 50. By earning his way into the Signature Events next season, he will not only get to play for elevated points and prize money, but he will also be afforded closer proximity to the best American players.

That’s no small thing for Bradley, who will captain the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup Team at Bethpage Black. (Bradley is also an assistant to Jim Furyk at next month’s Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal.)

“I want to be out there with the guys and the Ryder Cup team,” Bradley said. “I want to be playing with them, on the range with them, in the locker room, in the tournament.

“It was really important for me to be in this top 50,” he added.

Coming off two victories last season, Bradley has authored just a couple of top-10 finishes this year. One was a playoff loss at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January; the other was a T2 at the Charles Schwab Challenge in May. Otherwise, he’s been quiet, other than his surprise appointment to lead the U.S. Ryder Cup effort.

Thursday brought ideal conditions at Castle Pines, and Bradley took advantage, hitting 12 of 14 fairways and 16 greens in regulation. His longest birdie putt was from 16 feet at the par-4 13th hole, and he birdied three of the four par 5s.

With FedExCup points quadrupled for the Playoffs, Bradley, with his rocket-like projection up the standings, is the latest reminder that you’ve got to play to win and that a strong finishing kick to the season can make up for a lot.

And in case you were wondering, Bradley and playing partner Cam Davis (72), FedExCup No. 49, did not discuss the fact that at one time it appeared neither was destined for Denver.

“No, we didn't,” Bradley said. “We don't want to relive any of that horrifying afternoon.”

Big mover

Adam Scott is a regular presence at East Lake, having competed in 12 TOUR Championships, but he missed the top 30 last year and arrived at this week’s BMW Championship at No. 41 on the FedExCup. The math said he needed a two-way T20 at minimum for a chance to move inside the top 30, but the likely reality is that he needs a good deal more.

The veteran Australian is off to a good start, as he opened with a 4-under 68 at Castle Pines, turning in even-par 36 and racing up the board with four birdies in five holes to begin the back nine. He was T3 for the week and projected to move to No. 22 on the FedExCup at the time of suspension Thursday.

Scott’s implications this week are twofold – he also ranks No. 5 on the International Presidents Cup Team standings, with the top six after this week automatically qualifying for Captain Mike Weir’s side at Royal Montreal.

Scott has some nostalgic vibes at Castle Pines, where he made his TOUR debut at The International in 2000. He’s now a veteran of 405 PGA TOUR starts, but he still relishes the grind in pursuit of a tee time at East Lake – and he’s freed up by just being at the BMW Championship, as he has qualified for next year’s eight Signature Events via the top 50.

“I feel like I've played on a bubble all year, and unless I'm running away by six shots on Sunday, I'm probably going to be on a bubble all week this week, as well, if I'm playing good,” Scott said Thursday.

“Of course I want to make it to Atlanta, but making the top 50 is like kind of keeping your card in a top player group out here these days. That's going to set me up for a great year next year. So I'm excited about that.”

Projected in

Keegan Bradley (No. 50, projected to No. 4): After sweating out the bubble in Memphis to earn the final spot in the 50-player BMW field, he opened in 6-under 66 at Castle Pines to move inside the projected top 30 in style. He holds the solo BMW lead after Round 1.

Corey Conners (No. 33, projected to No. 20): The Canadian’s motivation this week is twofold, vying for his fifth TOUR Championship appearance and to secure an automatic spot on the International Presidents Cup Team – he’s No. 7 on the standings, on which the top six after the BMW will qualify. He started fast at Castle Pines with a 4-under 68, good for a T3 through Round 1.

Adam Scott (No. 41, projected to No. 22): The Australian needs a two-way T20 at minimum the BMW, and likely more, to move inside the top 30 and qualify for his 13th TOUR Championship. So far, so good, after a 4-under 68 to begin the proceedings.

Alex Noren (No. 45, projected to No. 23): The Swede needs a solo 14th at minimum for a chance to qualify for his first TOUR Championship, and he’s well on his way after a first-round 68 at Castle Pines, tied for third into Friday.

Projected out

Brian Harman (No. 29, projected to No. 31): After winning the 2023 Open Championship en route to a No. 23 finish on the FedExCup, Harman is fighting for a return to East Lake. He opened the BMW in even-par 72.

Denny McCarthy (No. 30, projected to No. 32): McCarthy rode the bubble at last year’s BMW before finishing No. 33 on the FedExCup; he looks to avoid the same fate. McCarthy opened in 1-under 71 at Castle Pines.

Jason Day (No. 25, projected to No. 35): The Aussie opened in 6-over 78 and is tied for last; he’ll need to rally (a la Max Greyserman at TPC Southwind) to hang onto his top-30 position.

Davis Thompson (No. 26, projected to No. 36): The second-year TOUR pro, who broke through for his first title at the John Deere Classic, opened in 4-over 76 at the BMW to tumble well outside the projected top 30.

Bubble boy

Tom Hoge (No. 28, projected No. 30): The North Dakota native is the projected "last man to East Lake" into Friday at Castle Pines, as he rallied with three birdies on the back nine Thursday for an even-par 72. The wily veteran stands T22 on the tournament leaderboard, with high volatility possible across the next 54 holes.

PGA TOUR staff writer Kevin Prise contributed to this report.