BMW Championship (PGA Tour)
Western Open
The Western Open was first played 126 years ago in 1899. For many years, the Western was played in and out of the state of Illinois, before eventually settling down in the Chicago area. The Western Golf Association (WGA) ran the Western Open throughout its entire history (1899–2006), and continues to run the tournament under its new title. These are, however, two entirely different events in terms of playing format and invitational criteria. The Western Open was like any other regular PGA Tour stop – although it was once considered to be one of golf's majors. The BMW Championship is part of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and only the leading FedEx Cup points earners at the start of the BMW event are eligible to play.
Tournament format
The BMW Championship is open to the leading FedEx Cup points earners on the PGA Tour following the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Through 2022, the top 70 players were qualified, after which it was reduced to the top 50. With a limited field, there is no 36-hole cut. The top 30 in the FedEx Cup points list following the BMW Championship advance to The Tour Championship, where the FedEx Cup champion is decided.
Winners
Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Purse ($) |
Winner's share ($) |
Venue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Keegan Bradley (2) | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Ludvig Åberg Sam Burns Adam Scott |
20,000,000 | 3,600,000 | Castle Pines |
2023 | Viktor Hovland | 263 | −17 | 2 strokes | Matt Fitzpatrick Scottie Scheffler |
20,000,000 | 3,600,000 | Olympia Fields |
2022 | Patrick Cantlay (2) | 270 | −14 | 1 stroke | Scott Stallings | 15,000,000 | 2,700,000 | Wilmington |
2021 | Patrick Cantlay | 261 | −27 | Playoff | Bryson DeChambeau | 9,500,000 | 1,710,000 | Caves Valley |
2020 | Jon Rahm | 276 | −4 | Playoff | Dustin Johnson | 9,500,000 | 1,710,000 | Olympia Fields |
2019 | Justin Thomas | 263 | −25 | 3 strokes | Patrick Cantlay | 9,250,000 | 1,665,000 | Medinah |
2018 | Keegan Bradley | 260 | −20 | Playoff | Justin Rose | 9,000,000 | 1,620,000 | Aronimink |
2017 | Marc Leishman | 261 | −23 | 5 strokes | Rickie Fowler Justin Rose |
8,750,000 | 1,575,000 | Conway Farms |
2016 | Dustin Johnson (2) | 265 | −23 | 3 strokes | Paul Casey | 8,500,000 | 1,530,000 | Crooked Stick |
2015 | Jason Day | 262 | −22 | 6 strokes | Daniel Berger | 8,250,000 | 1,485,000 | Conway Farms |
2014 | Billy Horschel | 266 | −14 | 2 strokes | Bubba Watson | 8,000,000 | 1,440,000 | Cherry Hills |
2013 | Zach Johnson | 268 | −16 | 2 strokes | Nick Watney | 8,000,000 | 1,440,000 | Conway Farms |
2012 | Rory McIlroy | 268 | −20 | 2 strokes | Phil Mickelson Lee Westwood |
8,000,000 | 1,440,000 | Crooked Stick |
2011 | Justin Rose | 271 | −13 | 2 strokes | John Senden | 8,000,000 | 1,440,000 | Cog Hill |
2010 | Dustin Johnson | 275 | −9 | 1 stroke | Paul Casey | 7,500,000 | 1,350,000 | Cog Hill |
2009 | Tiger Woods (5) | 265 | −19 | 8 strokes | Jim Furyk Marc Leishman |
7,500,000 | 1,350,000 | Cog Hill |
2008 | Camilo Villegas | 265 | −15 | 2 strokes | Dudley Hart | 7,000,000 | 1,260,000 | Bellerive |
2007 | Tiger Woods (4) | 262 | −22 | 2 strokes | Aaron Baddeley | 7,000,000 | 1,260,000 | Cog Hill |
Host venues
Four of the first five editions of the BMW Championship were held at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, which had hosted the Western Open since 1991. Since 2011, no course has hosted in consecutive years, with the tournament moving throughout the Midwest and sometimes venturing into Colorado as well as the Mid-Atlantic region. The Chicago metropolitan area remains the most frequent location, having hosted the event ten times at four different courses.
Venue | Location | First | Last | Times |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cog Hill Golf & Country Club | Lemont, Illinois | 2007 | 2011 | 4 |
Conway Farms Golf Club | Lake Forest, Illinois | 2013 | 2017 | 3 |
Crooked Stick Golf Club | Carmel, Indiana | 2012 | 2016 | 2 |
Olympia Fields Country Club (North Course) | Olympia Fields, Illinois | 2020 | 2023 | 2 |
Bellerive Country Club | Town and Country, Missouri | 2008 | 1 | |
Cherry Hills Country Club | Cherry Hills Village, Colorado | 2014 | 1 | |
Aronimink Golf Club | Newtown Square, Pennsylvania | 2018 | 1 | |
Medinah Country Club (Course 3) | Medinah, Illinois | 2019 | 1 | |
Caves Valley Golf Club | Owings Mills, Maryland | 2021 | 1 | |
Wilmington Country Club | Wilmington, Delaware | 2022 | 1 | |
Castle Pines Golf Club | Castle Rock, Colorado | 2024 | 1 |
Future sites
Year | Course | Location |
---|---|---|
2025 | Caves Valley Golf Club | Owings Mills, Maryland |
2026 | Bellerive Country Club | Town and Country, Missouri |
2027 | Liberty National Golf Club | Jersey City, New Jersey |
- Source:
References
- ^ "2013 BMW Championship Earns PGA Tour's Tournament of the Year Honor" (Press release). BMW Group. October 12, 2013.
- ^ "FedEx Cup 101". PGA Tour. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ^ "Wilmington Country Club to host 2022 BMW Championship". BMW Championship. November 17, 2020.
- ^ "BMW Championship | 2023 Priority Ticket Program". BMW Championship. Retrieved May 4, 2022.