Fedex Cup Bubble Watch 2024 after the first round of the BMW Championship
CASTLE ROCK, Colorado – Adam Scott isn’t quite sure what he needs to do at the BMW Championship this week to advance to the 30-man field for the Tour Championship in Atlanta, but he does know this much: Hopefully it will have to be good.
“It fluctuates so much,” he said. “Top 5 is obviously the goal. I think a top 5 would be enough. You never know anything else.”
Keegan Bradley, who was the big mover on day one and was set to jump from 50th to fourth, said he struggled to get into the top 50 last week. “I’ve been thinking about it all week, like everyone else. I’m sure I’ll be thinking about it this week,” he said.
Here’s a look at the players expected to move into the top 30 of the FedEx Cup and those who fall out of them after the first round of the BMW Championship.
Keegan Bradley after a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. Mandatory Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Corey Conners of Canada plays a shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Conners is nothing new about being in limbo when it comes to the Tour Championship. He has been in that situation on and off for the past few years. On Thursday, he shot 68, which is T-3. He is expected to jump from No. 33 to No. 20 and secure his spot at East Lake.
Adam Scott hits his second shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. Mandatory Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Australian is T-3 after the first round thanks to a 4-under-par 68. He was ranked 41st at the start of the week but is expected to rise to 22nd.
“I feel like I’ve been on the brink all year, and if I don’t pull away by six strokes on Sunday, if I play well, I’ll probably be on the brink this week as well,” he said.
Alex Noren after his second shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. Mandatory Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Noren started the week ranked 45th and knows he needs a top finish. The 42-year-old Swede started off on a high note, birdieing his first two holes to shoot a 68 (T-3), which earned him 23rd place.
“You have to finish high to be there next week,” said Noren. “I don’t have much to lose. But I definitely want to be there next week.”
Brian Harman of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Harman shot an even-par 72 on Thursday, which wasn’t bad, but wasn’t great either. He managed six birdies on the day, but also a double and four bogeys. That dropped him from 29th place to a likely 31st place. He is five points away from heading to East Lake, aka the first loser.
Denny McCarthy of the USA plays a shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
McCarthy shot 1-under 71 on a day when he had a rare bad day with his putter. He finished 41st out of 50 players in Strokes Gained: Putting. As a result, he fell from 30th to the wrong side of the cut line to make East Lake. He is expected to fall to 32nd.
Jason Day makes a putt on the 17th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. Mandatory Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Day, who began the week ranked 25th, shot 41 over the first nine holes to finish last in the 50-man field at 6-over-par 78. He is expected to slip to 35th.
Davis Thompson of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Thompson didn’t manage a birdie until the 14th hole of his opening round at Castle Pines, by which point he had already made five holes on the card. He started at 4-over 76 and is T-44. As a result, he is expected to fall from No. 26 and to the right of the cut line to No. 36 and out of contention for the Tour Championship.
