Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dustin Johnson’s win at the BMW Championship was just one of many storylines on a wild Sunday.
Just like in 1991 and 2012, we have a long-hitting winner at Crooked Stick Golf Club. On Sunday, Dustin Johnson used his prodigious length as well as a red-hot putting stroke to climb to victory at the BMW Championship, moving into the pole position in the FedEx Cup as the PGA Tour heads to East Lake for the season-ending Tour Championship.
While Johnson didn’t exactly run away with the event, he wasn’t seriously challenged all day. Playing partner Paul Casey moved within one stroke of the lead on a couple of occasions, but the world No. 2 was always quick to pull back ahead with another par breaker. In all, Johnson circled seven on the day, including an eagle on 15.
Johnson’s win was clearly the biggest story of the tournament, but there were plenty of other developments as the players headed for home. Several players moved inside the Tour Championship bubble, while others put the finishing touches on their cases for a Ryder Cup captain’s pick.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at four of the main takeaways from the BMW Championship.
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dustin Johnson Should Be Player of the Year
Vince Lombardi may have said it best: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” It seems that Dustin Johnson took those words to heart at the BMW Championship.
With two wins, including the U.S. Open, heading into this week, Johnson was already a favorite to take home Player of the Year honors. However, he trailed Jason Day’s total of three wins, and while Day couldn’t bag a major this year, the Aussie’s victory at the Players Championship partly makes up for that. Throw in victories at the WGC-Match Play and Arnold Palmer Invitational, and you could have argued for Day to win POY before this weekend.
Not anymore. Johnson’s mammoth win at the BMW ties him with Day, and as a reigning major champion, his case appears airtight. If Day or Henrik Stenson can make something happen at East Lake, then the voting could be close. If not, then it seems we have our POY for 2016.
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Despite Falling Short Again, Paul Casey is a FedEx Cup Favorite
Another final round, another disappointment for Paul Casey. After getting schooled by Rory McIlroy at last week’s Deutsche Bank Championship, the Englishman, playing in the final group with Johnson, failed to make a serious run at the trophy at the BMW Championship. He ended up finishing in solo second at both events.
However, the finishes don’t really tell the whole story. While Casey slept on a 54-hole lead of three shots and closed with an ugly 73 at the Deutsche Bank Championship, he matched Johnson’s Sunday 67 at the BMW. Translation: he’s getting more comfortable with contending on a pressure-packed Sunday, a trait that will work to his advantage at the Tour Championship.
With his second consecutive runner-up finish, Casey has moved to fifth in FedEx Cup points, so a victory at East Lake would guarantee him the FedEx Cup and the $10 million bonus that comes with it. He’ll need to end a seven-year winless drought in order to pull it off, but the opportunity is out there.
J.B. Holmes. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Roberto Castro and J.B. Holmes Prove Their Mettle
While neither really had a chance to win, Roberto Castro and J.B. Holmes demonstrated their cool under pressure during Sunday’s final round. While both ran into trouble at various points throughout the day, they held steady to secure tee times at East Lake.
Castro, alone in fourth place to start the day, went out in 32 to advance one spot up the leaderboard. He made almost all pars coming home; he even found the water on 18 but still managed to recover nicely. His steady play throughout the week propelled him to a third-place finish, good enough to move from 53rd to 21st in the FedEx Cup and extend his season.
Holmes didn’t play nearly as well on Sunday; his 74 dropped him from solo third to a tie for fourth. However, the Kentuckian got it together when the spotlight was at its brightest. On the 18th green, Holmes had a must-make four-footer for par — a bogey would have taken him out of the top 30 and sent Rickie Fowler to the Tour Championship. Fortunately for Holmes, he stepped up and knocked it in with little hesitation. With the Ryder Cup just around the corner, he has to be on Davis Love III’s shortlist for a captain’s pick. And speaking of the Ryder Cup…
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Rickie Fowler’s Captain’s Pick Candidacy Takes a Hit
The BMW Championship wasn’t exactly a banner event for Rickie Fowler. Everyone’s favorite orange-clad superstar failed to break 70 in any of his rounds, ending up in 59th place — 24 strokes behind Johnson. The lackluster effort sent him tumbling out of the Tour Championship, so his season is over.
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While he would have certainly loved an opportunity to try and win the FedEx Cup, this week was probably more significant in terms of his Ryder Cup hopes. With back-to-back finishes outside of the top 45, his form isn’t very good, and he’s out of chances to make his case to Davis Love — three of the four captain’s picks will be announced this week, while one more will come after the Tour Championship. Unless he decides to play an upcoming European Tour event, Fowler is powerless.
Given his Ryder Cup experience and his popularity with many Team USA players and officials, Fowler may very well be on the squad anyway. But after a poor showing at Crooked Stick, his case for a captain’s has certainly lost some luster.
What was your favorite moment from the BMW Championship? Let us know in the comments, and keep it here at Pro Golf Now for more FedEx Cup updates.
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