Robert TheodorsonThirty golfers will compete to survive and advance to the third and final playoff tournament in Atlanta next week, but for now, several of the big names in golf are in grave danger of being on the wrong side of Sunday’s twenty-man cut.
Betting favourite and 2025 PGA Championship & Open winner Scottie Scheffler commanded the course and the crowd for most of Thursday, putting together a solid day that’s sure to translate into continued success.
Scotsman Robbie MacIntyre had himself his best round of the year, taking the lead into Friday at the 2025 BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club.
Elsewhere, fan favourites from the past decade in Rickie Fowler and Jason Day had fantastic opening rounds and look to dazzle tomorrow, going into the weekend.
The Unstoppable Scottie Scheffler
Capping off his day with an improbable birdie on 18, Scottie Scheffler is once again in full command of his game and looks to be the favourite to win, something almost everyone predicted.
Shooting a 66 and scoring 4-under to finish the day in 3rd place, Scheffler started his day with a bang, birdieing holes 1, 2, and 4 before suffering a minor setback around the turn. In true Scottie Scheffler fashion, any mistakes made were thusly corrected as the four-time major champion winner scored on holes 15, 16, and 18.
Paired with Rory McIlroy (T15; Even par), the crowds were glued to Scottie and Rory throughout the day despite the storm delay which had the dynamic duo end their round around 6PM despite their 11:16 AM tee time.
Robbie MacIntyre
Robbie MacIntyre picked a superb time to make a case for his first win of the season!
Frequently finishing in the Top 10 this year but never really a threat to win, Robbie MacIntyre went out Thursday played a statement round if ever there was one!
Birdieing holes 13 – 18, the Scottish golfer’s 62 was by far and away the best score of the day, three better than Tommy Fleetwood (2nd; 5-under par) and four better than Scheffler.
It would be fitting for the man who is currently 18th on the PGA Money list and 16th in the OWGR to save his best tournament for the end of the season and make a run for the Top 10s.
There have been several opportunities this season when MacIntyre could have and probably should have pulled it off, but always came up short, though without the Tommy Fleetwood-like heartbreak.
While another six birdies in a row this tournament is unlikely, MacIntyre has made himself the man to watch on the back nine this weekend. If all goes well for the next three days, expect MacIntyre to be a serious threat to win the BMW Championship, or be the surprise upset in Atlanta!
Xander Schauffele Struggles Early
Starting his day with four bogeys through the first six holes is likely not how last years PGA Championship and Open winner imagined his BMW Championship starting. Struggling early and often, Schauffele did claw back somewhat throughout the day before falling victim to a double-bogey on the Par 4 18th.
With Caves Valley not being the score-fest it was back in 2021, Xander Schauffele’s 4-over par disadvantage is not insurmountable. While conditions were somewhat pleasant, albeit humid, before the storm warning that led to a mid-round delay, Thursday was absolutely a favourable day for the field.
Rickie Fowler, Jason Day, and Viktor Hovland First Round Surprises
Despite each being a Top 50 golfer on the PGA Tour, nobody going into Thursday gave Rickie Fowler and Jason Day a fair shake at winning this thing. Viktor Hovland, for as good as he is, has not done much of note since his third-place finish at The U.S. Open so one would be forgiven in discounting the Norwegian star despite his propensity to win now and again.
For each, it was an important day and a step closer to another win. For each, it was a different path to be on the leaderboard going into Friday.
Rickie Fowler (T4; 3-under par) overcame early bogeys on the 2nd and 3rd holes with a streak of four birdies around the turn.
Hovland (T4; 3-under par) found himself in a self-made rubber game on the front nine, ultimately cancelling out his three birdies before going on his own run on the back nine.
Jason Day (T7; 2-under par) looked well on his way to strut towards the clubhouse with the tournament lead before miscues on the 17th and 18th holes to end his day. For Day, despite the success it would probably be best to have a short memory and forget Thursday and move on with a Top 10 placement in hand.
Caves Valley hosts another exciting three days of the BMW Championship.
Jason Day will pair with Harry Hall and kick off tomorrow’s action at 9:21 AM ET.
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler will once again be paired but will conclude the day as the third to last grouping, starting in the afternoon at 1:38 PM ET.
