Adam Schupak
August 22, 2024 9:01 pm ET
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — Adam Scott isn’t exactly sure what he needs to do this week at the BMW Championship to advance into the 30-man field at the Tour Championship in Atlanta but he’s knows this much: it better be good.
“It moves around so much,” he said. “Top 5 is kind of the goal, obviously. I think a top 5 would do it. Anything else, you never know.”
Keegan Bradley, who was the big mover on Day One and projected to jump from No. 50 to No. 4, said trying to make the top 50 last week weighed heavily on his mind. “It was constantly on my mind throughout the week, as it is for everybody. I’m sure it’ll be on my mind this week, too,” he said.
Here’s a look at who is projected to move in and who is falling out of the FedEx Cup top 30 after the first round of the BMW Championship.
Keegan Bradley — projected 4th
Keegan Bradley after a birdie putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Bradley opened with a bogey-free 66 to take the first-round lead. That has him projected to catapult from No. 50 to No. 4. But this is the 11th time Bradley had held the 18-hole lead or co-lead and he’s never ended up the winner in any of the previous 10 occasions.
Corey Conners — projected 20th
Corey Conners of Canada plays a shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Being on the bubble for the Tour Championship is old hat for Conners, who has been in this situation the last few years. He shot 68 on Thursday, which is T-3, and has him projected to jump from No. 33 to No. 20 and able to book his spot at East Lake.
Adam Scott — projected 22nd
Adam Scott hits his second shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The Aussie sits T-3 after the first round thanks to a 4-under 68. He entered the week at No. 41 but is projected to climb to No. 22.
“I feel like I’ve played on a bubble all year, and unless I’m running away by six shots on Sunday, I’m probably going to be on a bubble all week this week, as well, if I’m playing good,” he said.
Alex Noren — projected 23rd
Alex Noren after his second shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Noren entered the week at No. 45 and knows he’s going to need a top finish. The 42-year-old Swede came out guns blazing and birdied his first two holes en route to shooting 68 (T-3). That had him projected to be No. 23.
“You’ve got to finish really high up there to get to next week,” Noren said. “I don’t have much to lose. But I really want to get to next week.”
Brian Harman -- projected 31st
Brian Harman of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Harman shot even-par 72 on Thursday, which wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good either. He made six birdies on the day but a double and four bogeys too. It bumped him from No. 29 to projected at No. 31. He would be five points shy of getting to go to East Lake, AKA, the first loser.
Denny McCarthy -- projected 32nd
Denny McCarthy of the United States plays a shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
McCarthy shot 1-under 71 on a day when he had a rare off day with his putter. He ranked 41st out of 50 players in Strokes Gained: Putting. As a result, he fell from No. 30 to the wrong side of the cut line to make East Lake. He’s projected to fall to No. 32.
Jason Day -- projected 35th
Jason Day makes a putt on the 17th hole during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Day, who entered the week at No. 25, shot 41 on the front nine and his 6-over 78 left him tied for last among the 50-man field. He’s projected to plummet to No. 35.
Davis Thompson --projected 36th
Davis Thompson of the United States plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Thompson didn’t make a birdie until the 14th hole of his opening round at Castle Pines. By that time he had five boxes on the card. He opened in 4-over 76 and sits T-44. As a result, he’s projected to fall from No. 26 and on the right side of the cut line to No. 36 and out of the Tour Championship field.
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