RADIO
Tom Kim Continues to Impress Ahead of BMW Championship
Things haven't slowed much for Tom Kim since his win a month ago. He's coming off his third straight top 20 finish, which included a T5 two weeks ago and a T12 last week in Memphis. The iron play has continued to gain three or more strokes per event, while becoming even more accurate off the tee. What's more intriguing is the putter that averaged 0.034 strokes gained this season has risen to an average of 0.328 since the beginning of June. It's also the main area that's kept him afloat the last couple of weeks. There is a chance that Bellerive could play a little too long for the South Korean. But, as the second-ranked player on tour in par-4 scoring average this season (3.95), he probably deserves as much consideration as anyone else this week.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Viktor Hovland Looking to Put Four Rounds Together at BMW Championship
Through the first two rounds last week in Memphis, Viktor Hovland looked like the one player set to keep pace with Scottie Scheffler. The Norwegian fired rounds of 68-64 to reach second place, but lost pace by going +4 over the weekend. He still managed to squeak out a top-20 finish, led by his iron play, but the rest of his game still proved to be somewhat unpredictable. His work on approach will aid him well at Bellerive this week, and his often-discussed short game isn't the liability it has been in the past. However, his success this week in St. Louis will be limited if he loses strokes off the tee as he has in three of his last five starts (two coming in the last two weeks). Hovland makes more birdies than most, especially on par-4s, so the ceiling is certainly as high as anyone if he keeps the driver under control.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Xander Schauffele Continues to Impress Ahead of BMW Championship
After a poor stretch through the middle of the year, Xander Schauffele has now recorded back-to-back top-10 finishes after his T7 in Memphis. The iron play and putting were the problem areas, but both have rebounded nicely, averaging 0.513 strokes gained putting and 0.843 on approach in his last three tournaments. If there were any lingering qualms heading to Bellerive this week for the two-time major champion, it would be in three-putt avoidance, where he ranks 108th this year. However, this week should be more heavily focused on making birdies than at TPC Southwind. Schauffele is still the caliber of player that could pop off at any tournament, which should grant him plenty of DFS viability come Thursday.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Tommy Fleetwood is Still a Great DFS Addition But His Ceiling Seems Limited
Like everyone else last week at TPC Southwind, Tommy Fleetwood couldn't make enough birdies to make up ground on the lead. It was the second event in his last three starts in which he's lost strokes on putting, and while he continues to post modest ball-striking numbers, they're not at the level needed to win. He continues to have some of the best hands around the greens, but an upcoming Bellerive Country Club may require lower scores than last week. That would limit the ability of Fleetwood's second-ranked strokes gained around the green, and the continued putting woes add to that fear. It isn't to say the 35-year-old is someone to avoid, but the ceiling is lower at a place that asks questions he hasn't been able to answer.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Sam Burns Still Searching For a Win at BMW Championship
If golf tournaments ended after 54 holes, Sam Burns would be the unquestioned player-of-the-year frontrunner. His play had kept him within striking distance entering the final round last week in Memphis, but a three-over-par 73 continued an all-too-familiar trend. Even with the incredible ball striking on display, it overshadows an underlying problem that his statistics in that area have suffered immensely on Sunday compared to the first three days. The former LSU Tiger clearly has the resilience needed to become a winner. He'll have another opportunity this week at the BMW Championship, as Bellerive Country Club sets up well for his current iron play trends and affinity for making putts.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Adam Scott Has Real Concerns Heading to BMW Championship
Adam Scott will advance to the Tour Championship (27th in points). The Australian golfer merely has to play steady golf and make some putts. Scott did this last week in Memphis and nearly ended up inside the top 10 (T-12). Scott's putter kept him in the event despite driving the ball 13.3 yards off the field average. At a course like Bellerive, Scott's ability to drive the ball may be one big issue. Putting has normally been the biggest weakness, as Scott averages 30.18 putts per round. With this many concerns, Scott may be a golfer to fade given the 7,547-yard course outside of St. Louis.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Ryan Fox Feels the Heat in Memphis Last Week
Ryan Fox won the Open Championship in July. The golfer from New Zealand felt the heat from the start at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Fox opened with back-to-back rounds of 73. By the time he recovered on Sunday (67), it was far too late. Fox had a similar time at the Travelers Championship late in June where he struggled to make birdies early (three straight 71's). Links golf does add to Fox's driver accuracy but he has been below average on more traditional PGA courses (-6% last week). It figures to be not as hot in the St. Louis area. However, Fox's inability to stay accurate on drives and green approach (128th at 64.67%) may cause him to be faded again from a DFS perspective.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Akshay Bhatia Appears Off Heading into BMW Championship
Akshay Bhatia started 2026 struggling mightily in several facets. The American golfer enters the BMW Championship oddly in the same position. Bhatia missed the cut in two events including the Rocket Classic. Last week, Bhatia never ended up below par and imploded on Sunday with a 76. Wayward shots on Sunday were one thing but so many missed putts made the round worse. Three double bogeys and two more bogeys paint an uncertain picture for Bellerive. Bhatia is much better when converting his putts. He ranks 8th at 0.524 strokes gained overall. Bhatia's putts per round is now 28.58 for Round 1 and that is even a DFS red flag for this weekend.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Kristoffer Reitan Learns the PGA Playoffs are a Different Animal
Kristoffer Reitan learned a painful lesson last week in Memphis. The Norwegian golfer never got in a rhythm after an opening round 72. The result illustrated the ups and downs of Reitan as he experiences higher and higher level golf. His accuracy and distance with the driver was around field average in Memphis and maybe that was due to being off several weeks. Reitan did battle back to a 69 on Sunday which offers a glimpse of hope. He has gained strokes in three of his previous four events putting and his putts per round do plummet on Sundays (27.71 - 10th). Reitan could be a late DFS factor on the weekend at the BMW Championship.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Hideki Matsuyama Fights to Contend at BMW Championship
Hideki Matsuyama looked a little out of sorts in Memphis. The Japanese golfer did just enough to secure his fourth straight Top 7 result and sixth consecutive Top 15 effort. He survived on Sunday despite some shaky moments around the green and with the putter. Overall, he lost 0.37 strokes to putting. Matsuyama created plenty of chances with being a staggering 17% above average in driver accuracy. With how long, Bellerive is (7,547 yards), Matsuyama will need to again hit his spots. The putter will again be the focus as far as determining the golfer's fortunes in St. Louis.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Ludwig Aberg Rebounds from Tough Saturday at Memphis
Ludwig Aberg picked the wrong time to have a bad third round last week. The Swedish golfer ended up with a 74 while other golfers surged on "moving day". He did bounce back with a 67 on Sunday to sneak back into the Top 10 (T-7). The FedEx St. Jude Championship may not have been his best effort but overall, Aberg was very strong off the tee gaining 1.65 strokes while only being 1% off the field in driver accuracy. Aberg will need that along with his putter and patience at Bellerive. St. Louis is forecast to be dry all weekend and the greens will run fast. Aberg's putter has not run extremely hot or cold in 2026 but there will be chances from a DFS point of view at the BMW Championship.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Wyndham Clark Needs to Find Fairway More Often at BMW Championship
Wyndham Clark bounced back enough to net a top-five result at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. The American golfer ended up with a solid 68 on Sunday to cement his position. A big key at the BMW Championship could be driver accuracy (Clark ranks 123rd at 56.89%). He has been 10% or worse off compared to the field over the past three events. Bellerive, just outside of St. Louis, comes in at 7,547 yards. The other key is undoubtedly the putter. Clark's two wins in 2026 have seen the golfer go over 1.5 strokes gained. He has three such events along with solid balance. Averaging 27.9 putts per round (third on the PGA Tour) can elevate Clark from a betting standpoint this week.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Si Woo Kim Stands Firm in First Round of the PGA Playoffs
Si Woo Kim was one of the few golfers who stood firm on Sunday. The Korean golfer stayed under par and rose to second place via a 68. Kim has a whopping 11 Top 10 results this 2026 season. One of the biggest reasons for his success is keeping the ball in play. His driver accuracy was a whopping 19% better than the field average in Memphis. Furthermore, gaining 3.1 strokes combined between off the tee and approaching the green is a recipe for success most weeks. Yes, Kim missed a few putts but still rose to fourth in the FedEx points standings. From a DFS and betting perspective, the Korean golfer has to be on the radar especially at Bellerive (7,547 yard, Par-71).
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Scottie Scheffler Coming Off Second Win of the Season
It really is amazing what Scottie Scheffler is capable of when he makes putts the way he should from inside 10 feet. This past week in Memphis was actually the best statistical putting performance of his career, gaining nearly nine strokes with the flat stick through the four days. The lack of stress this victory had after a 61 in Friday's second round should keep him sharp enough for his upcoming start at Bellerive. Scheffler wasn't in the field for the 2018 PGA Championship, but he undoubtedly does just about anything as well, if not better, than anyone else in the field. If the putting carries over from TPC Southwind, there is little reason to doubt he won't find his way into the conversation again this week.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Aaron Rai Hoping his Putter Cooperates at TPC Southwind
Aaron Rai bounced back from back-to-back missed cuts with a T29 finish at the Wyndham Championship. He now turns to the FedEx St. Jude Championship, where he has four finishes of T26 or better in six trips to TPC Southwind. Historically, Rai has struggled on the greens here, losing more than 8.8 strokes putting over his last two appearances. His putting has not been much better this season, ranking 98th while losing -0.046 strokes per round. He has been strong in other key areas, ranking 23rd on approach (+0.448) and third in driving accuracy. He is also in the 66th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that accounted for 41.8% of all approach shots here last year. Rai's precision gives him plenty of upside, but his putting could keep him from making a serious run at the top of the leaderboard.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
