CARMEL, IN – SEPTEMBER 09: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with the J.K. Wadley Trophy after his victory at the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club on September 9, 2012 in Carmel, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy was the PGA Tour’s last winner at Crooked Stick. Who will follow in his footsteps this week at the BMW Championship?
With more than half of the playoff field eliminated, the race for the FedEx Cup is starting to really heat up. While seventy players will tee it up at the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club this week, only thirty will advance to the Tour Championship.
Most golf fans know Crooked Stick as the site of John Daly’s improbable win at the 1991 PGA Championship. The ninth alternate heading into the week, Daly used his length to overpower the course and win by three strokes. Since then, the Pete Dye design has hosted two more major events, albeit on different tours: the 1993 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2009 U.S. Senior Open.
This will be Crooked Stick’s second time hosting the BMW Championship. The last time was four years ago, when Rory McIlroy put on an outstanding show to pick up his third win in four starts. The winning score was 20-under, so expect to see some birdies this week.
Who will follow in the footsteps of Daly and McIlroy and become a PGA Tour winner at Crooked Stick this week? I can offer some names to watch. Here are the ten best bets for success at the BMW Championship.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Reed has looked unshakeable over the past few weeks.
1
Patrick Reed
No. 9, Seven consecutive top 25s
The world No. 9 is the hottest player on the planet right now, bar none. Prior to the FedEx Cup playoffs, Reed was on a nice run of six consecutive top 25 finishes, but his stirring victory at The Barclays was what really put him over the edge. Sitting in a tie for 11th through three rounds at the Deutsche Bank Championship, there’s been no winner’s hangover to speak of, which is good — Reed will need all the momentum he can get if he wants to contend at an unfamiliar course like Crooked Stick.Next: Adam Scott
Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Adam Scott’s immense ball striking skills should carry him to a good finish this week.
2
Adam Scott
No. 6, Four top 20s in last five starts
This Aussie seldom slumps and hasn’t missed a cut in more than a year, making him a dangerous player as the postseason field starts to dwindle. Scott has found the top 20 on four occasions in his five starts since the calendar turned to June, tying for fourth at The Barclays; he’s also tied for 23rd through three rounds at the Deutsche Bank Championship. While his putting stroke will probably never be as good as it was when he was allowed to anchor, his ball striking skills more than make up for that deficit. He tied for sixth at the 2012 BMW Championship.Next: Dustin Johnson
Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
While it’s been a couple of months since he’s won anything, Dustin Johnson has continued to play consistent golf.
3
Dustin Johnson
No. 2, Eight top 25s in last nine starts
He’s quieted down since his monster midsummer stretch, during which he bagged a pair of big-time victories, but Johnson still has everything you could ask for in a frontrunner. He has a chance to notch back-to-back top 25s to open the postseason, and his tie for sixth at Crooked Stick back in 2012 makes him one of just a handful of competitors with meaningful experience at the course. If he can take a page from John Daly’s book and keep a good number of his booming drives in the fairway, he’ll be in a great position to win the title.Next: Louis Oosthuizen
Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Louis Oosthuizen is in the midst of a really nice stretch, mostly thanks to a rejuvenated putting stroke.
4
Louis Oosthuizen
No. 17, Five top 25s in last six starts
It’s been a relatively low-key year for King Louis, but he’s recently started to gain some traction just as the season is nearing its conclusion. The South African has reeled off five top 25 finishes since June — four of them coming at majors, WGCs or playoff events — and is currently tied for seventh through three rounds at the Deutsche Bank Championship. He also has fond memories of Crooked Stick from back in 2012; he tied for 16th at the BMW Championship that year. Normally unimpressive with the flatstick, Oosthuizen has made big strides on the greens this postseason.Next: Jason Day
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jason Day failed to deliver at TPC Boston, but he’s still a frontrunner to take the BMW Championship.
5
Jason Day
No. 1, Two top fives in last three starts
Going into the week, this world No. 1 looked primed to finally pick up a win at TPC Boston, a course where he’s enjoyed a ton of success, but it just wasn’t to be. He currently sits in a tie for 33rd heading into the final round. Still, Day should remain on your shortlist for Crooked Stick — in case you forgot, he hits it a mile, can putt the daylights out and has notched a pair of top five finishes since the beginning of August. This week will mark his first competitive look at Crooked Stick, but his game is nothing if not adaptable.Next: Hideki Matsuyama
Mandatory Credit: Eric Sucar-USA TODAY Sports
Hideki Matsuyama is outstanding from tee to green, making him a player to watch this week.
6
Hideki Matsuyama
No. 16, Two top fives in last three starts
Another player with no Crooked Stick experience to speak of, Matsuyama lands on this list thanks to his strong recent play. The man from Japan has notched a pair of top fives in his last three starts, and while he missed the cut at The Barclays, he recovered nicely at TPC Boston, shooting an impressive 67 on moving day. Given his statistical profile, we shouldn’t be surprised that he continues to land on our radar — with rankings of sixth in strokes gained: off-the-tee and second in strokes gained: approach-the-green, the short clubs are his only bugaboo. When he putts well, he’s a force to be reckoned with.Next: Rory McIlroy
Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
This week, Rory McIlroy will try to become the first-ever PGA Tour player to win multiple titles at Crooked Stick.
7
Rory McIlroy
No. 5, Two top fives in last four starts
The PGA Tour’s most recent winner at Crooked Stick, McIlroy probably wishes he was in better form heading into what basically amounts to a title defense. Still, the world No. 5 is by no means playing poorly — he’s notched a pair of top fives in his last four starts, and he currently sits in a tie for seventh through three rounds at the Deutsche Bank Championship. His experience at this course should provide the biggest boost, however; despite a subpar performance on the greens, he beat the field by two strokes at the 2012 BMW Championship.Next: Phil Mickelson
Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Mickelson has been hit-or-miss in recent weeks, but he played phenomenally in his last look at Crooked Stick.
8
Phil Mickelson
No. 13, Three top 15s in last five starts
Lefty qualified for three majors in 1991, but not the PGA Championship. That’s too bad — had he made the trip, he’d be the only player in this week’s field with two career appearances at Crooked Stick. Even so, experience will be one of Mickelson’s biggest calling cards this week; he tied for second place at the 2012 BMW Championship, and could have won it if not for a pair of bogeys on the back nine. He may have missed the cut at the Deutsche Bank, but he remains in the midst of a strong recent run: three top 15s in his last five starts.Next: Jordan Spieth
Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been a relatively quiet season for Jordan Spieth, but at least his form has remained consistent.
9
Jordan Spieth
No. 3, Three top 15s in last four starts
This Texan has been appearing near the bottom of my power rankings quite a lot over the past couple of months — his play remains solid and consistent, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen him contend for a title. He’s found the top 15 in three of his last four starts, and he’s heading for another top 25 at the Deutsche Bank Championship. It’s his putter that’s been holding him back; he ranks fifth in strokes gained: putting on the season, but has been out of the top 10 in both playoff events so far. If he can rediscover his stroke, look out.Next: Rickie Fowler
Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Rickie Fowler has started to turn things around over the past month, and his experience at Crooked Stick should help him out this week.
10
Rickie Fowler
No. 8, Back-to-back top 25 finishes
Who’s your pick to win the BMW Championship? Let us know in the comments, and keep it here at Pro Golf Now for more updates from the FedEx Cup playoffs.
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