Keegan Bradley heads toward the 14th green during the opening round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on Thursday, August 22, 2024, in Castle Rock, Colorado. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Keegan Bradley has made a stunning turnaround at the BMW Championship. Once on the edge, nervously waiting to see if he’d cut in the PGA Tour postseason, Bradley now finds himself at the top. On Thursday, he shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead.
Bradley, recently named U.S. Ryder Cup captain, was the last player to qualify for the 50-man field at Castle Pines. The wait was agonizing. He spent Sunday evening glued to his TV, tracking FedEx Cup standings and waiting for the official word. "One of the toughest afternoons of my career," he said. The relief of making it was palpable, and it showed in his play.
He navigated the challenging 8,130-yard course with skill, missing only two fairways and two greens. Bradley excelled on the par 5s, making the tough course look manageable.
Weather played a role too. The first round was interrupted for over three hours due to thunderstorms, which have often delayed the International tournament at Castle Pines.
Hideki Matsuyama, last week's playoff winner, was 5 under when play was halted. He resumed on the 18th but missed a birdie putt, finishing with a 67. Rory McIlroy was in the middle of a 20-foot par putt when play was stopped, eventually finishing with a 70 after the long break. Adam Scott, a veteran of Castle Pines, saved a long par putt on the 18th to shoot 68, joining Sungjae Im, Alex Noren, and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont.
Canadians Taylor Pendrith and Adam Hadwin posted scores of 72 and 76, respectively. Xander Schauffele, a two-time major winner, opened with a 69, while Scottie Scheffler, dealing with some back soreness, managed a 71. Scheffler is set to be the No. 1 seed at the Tour Championship unless Schauffele wins this week.
The players face unique challenges at Castle Pines, including adjusting to the high altitude, which affects ball distance. The top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings will advance to East Lake next week to compete for the $25 million prize.
Bradley’s strong performance could help him secure a spot among those 30, and his participation in the BMW Championship aligns with his goal to be present with the Ryder Cup team. "I want to be with the Ryder Cup team, in the locker room, and in the tournament. I needed to make the top 50," he said.
Noren, currently No. 45 in the FedEx Cup, and Scott, at No. 41, also had promising starts. Scott recalled his early days at Castle Pines, feeling unprepared but inspired to improve his game.
Scheffler, though dealing with some stiffness, managed his round well. He has previously overcome injuries, such as at The Players Championship, where he eventually won. "It’s a bad sign for everyone else," Schauffele commented on Scheffler’s resilience.
