Publication by EssentiallySports |
August 20, 2026 | Edition #345 |
👋 {{readername | Hey, golf fans}},
Bellerive Country Club did not come into being until several St. Louis sportsmen leased land from war hero Daniel Bissell and opened a nine-hole course in 1897. Over a hundred years later, the club will host the oldest non-major PGA Tour event, the BMW Championship, for the second time. And it will be pretty consequential for the future of fifty players.
Let’s get swinging…
*In the last five years at the BMW Championship.
A poor week at BMW Championship stings like hand sanitizer in a wound. You’re in the tournament that determines the field for the season-ending Tour Championship, and missing the 30-player cutoff is bound to hurt. But these players are secure regardless of their finish:
Field:
Rory McIlroy (13th): He is playing in his 16th BMW Championship, the most appearances by any pro since 2007. The former champion has already crowned Scottie the Player of the Year and said they are all “f’ed” if Scottie plays like he did last week—hear it from him.
Scottie Scheffler (1st): A two-time champion this season, he has, well, everything in his favor. Oh, and Ted Scott’s mustache is there for moral support.
Si Woo Kim (4th): He’s the highest–ranked player in the field without a win this season, with 11 top-10s. But his goal is to defeat only one person (you know who).
Course: The PGA Tour returns to Bellerive CC for the first time since Camilo Villegas won in 2008. It will host the BMW Championship for the second time. Folks affectionately call it the “Green Monster of Ladue.” The historic club has a three-hole stretch called “The Ridge” and has water in play on 10 holes.
Storylines:
Kurt Kitayama (28th), Bud Cauley (29th), and Rickie Fowler (30th) are near or on the bubble this week.
There are six past champions in the field, including Justin Rose (2011), Rory McIlroy (2012), and Justin Thomas (2019).
There are two Tour rookies in the field, Kristoffer Reitan (19th) and Alex Fitzpatrick (20th).
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The bug problem, the LIV problem, and the “ancient” one.
Not-so-friendly: Lydia Ko has returned to the CPKC Women’s Canadian Open for the first time since her historic triumph in 2013. Watch her relive the moment from 13 years ago. A decade back she fought the established stars, and now she will fight... mosquitos. Record-breaking rainfall in June in Alberta has made her ditch the signature sleeveless look and use three different insect repellents. Kiara Romero has decided to wear a jacket. And Nelly Korda? Well, she’s making jokes about it, as you can see here.
Ancient: Adam Scott will tee off at Bellerive for the third time (2008 BMW, 2018 PGA, and 2026 BMW), the only player in this field to do so. A reporter jokingly asked how he feels about his “very ancient career.” Check out his answer to that tease here. Scott has been able to keep up with the younger generation. He’s still earning his spot in the fields of flagship events. And the secret is very simple, as he revealed here.
Uncertain: LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil reiterated that the league has lined up multiple interested investors. He’s also owning up to the fact that LIV is navigating some financial turbulence—vendors haven’t been paid on time. The pros haven’t been paid on time either, as you will see here. But Martin Kaymer, who has been candid in addressing the uncertainty, shared a few more details here.
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Notice Tommy’s use of a plane perfector in the picture above.
You must have seen a Swing Plane Perfector. It’s built with a rod that holds two alignment sticks in place. Not only does it help you visualize the swing path, but it also gives you proper feedback by creating a reference for the ideal swing path. Tommy Fleetwood, who ranks third in SG: Total (+1.41), also uses it to keep his swing on plane.
Lay the first rod flat on the ground to mark your target line. Place the second rod vertically at a slight angle, about 2–2½ feet away from your trail foot. Watch how Tommy sets it up here.
Take the club back to the top of your swing while focusing on keeping it on plane.
From there, move your body in slow motion into the downswing. Feel how your body has to move to deliver the club into the correct position. Watch him demonstrate it here.
You must make every movement intentional. By slowing it down, you train yourself to be deliberate about the exact swing shapes you want. Once you’re comfortable with it, try these other five drills.
Catch up on the stories you might have missed
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