2013 FedEx Cup: BMW Championship Preview and TV Times
By Les Bailey
Rory McIlroy won the 2012 BMW Championship at Crooked Stick, which would be his last PGA Tour win on American Soil. After winning two events during the FedEx Cup playoff he cooled during the Tour Championship, and lost out to Brandt Snedeker. The FedEx Cup was the only thing the young Ulstermen didn’t win in 2012. Rory McIlroy comes to Conway Farms Golf Club this week to defend his 2012 victory in 41st position, and if he doesn’t play well is in danger not making the 30-man field that will move on to East Lake next week.
Conway Farms Golf Course is a private venue that is located in Forest Lake, Illinois, and was designed by Tom Fazio. It was opened for play in 1991, and was designed around the traditions of Scottish Links golf. The course is 7149 yards, and plays to a par of 71 for the professional golfers.
The BMW Championship is the third leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs where only 70 players will tee it up on Thursday morning with a chance to join the 30 players that will move on to the final show in Atlanta next week. Tiger Woods will come into this event just as he has all season as the odd-on favorite, but struggles with his swing, and putting strokes has to put some doubts in his mind, as-well-as his fan around the world.
The hottest golfer on any tour is Henrik Stenson. Stenson displaced Tiger Woods as the number one FedEx Player with his win at The Deutsche Bank Championship on Labor Day. Although other golfers have played well during these playoffs, Stenson has to come to Conway Farms with some confidence and getting some love from the people who produce power rankings.
Canada’s Graham DeLaet made some noise at TPC Boston, and is now rubbing elbows with some of golf’s elite on the FedEx points list. His third place finish at TPC Boston has him rounding out the top five coming to Conway Farms.
Jordan Spieth has wowed the critics all year, and his final round 62 on Labor Day when he went five under par on the final four holes sent Freddie Couples to the telephone, to call the youngster and include him on his 2013 Presidents Cup team. Spieth, who didn’t have any status on the PGA Tour when the season started, comes into the BMW in 10th position.
The field: Top 70 players in the FedEx Cup rankings, competing for $8 million purse, including $1.44 million to champion. Top 30 players are eligible for Tour championship in Atlanta.
TV: Golf Channel, 2-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday; Golf Channel noon to 2 p.m. Saturday; Ch. 5, 2-5 p.m. Saturday; Golf Channel, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday; Ch. 5, 1-5 p.m. Sunday.