2014 BMW Championship: Final Thoughts

By Les Bailey | Sep 8, 2014

Sep 7, 2014; Cherry Hills Village, CO, USA; Billy Horschel winner of the BMW Championship holds a trophy at Cherry Hills Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

New 2013 BMW Champion Billy Horschel didn’t have his “A Game” on Sunday afternoon at the Cherry Hills Country Club, but the 27 year-old from Grant-Valkaria, Florida made every clutch par putt he faced coming down the stretch. Everyone, including announcers at the third leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs waited all afternoon for the bad shot that cost Billy Ho the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday, but it never came.

Sunday afternoon started for Billy Horschel with a three-shot lead over playing partner, Ryan Palmer who made an early run, and got a share of the lead with a birdie at the 11th hole, saw a back nine run by Sergio Garcia, but when the dust settled, Bubba Watson was the man who kept him honest, and forced him to make good shots on his way to the clubhouse.

More from Golf News

If it had not been for a poorly hit six-iron at TPC Boston on Monday, we may well be talking about a second consecutive victory during the FedEx Cup playoffs, but Billy Horschel is setting in second place as the 30 top players move on to the Tour Championship this week, and has to be a solid pick to win it all in Atlanta.

"“I’m not going to go ahead and guarantee a victory right now,” Horschel said, “but I will say that I’m probably going to play very well and I will have a chance to win on Sunday.”"

Ryan Palmer played well for eleven holes on Sunday, but a bogey at twelve, and a shank double bogey at the 13th hole started a string of bad holes that saw a piece of the lead pared down to a one over performance, and a tie for fourth place.

Sergio Garcia was in position to put some pressure on the lead, and a lay-up shot on 17 that netted a snowman on the par five, had the Spaniard talking to his caddie and a tie with Ryan Palmer.

Morgan Hoffmann was the star of this show at Cherry Hills. The 25 year-old from Wykoff, New Jersey came into the weekend at four over par, and well out of the top 30 positions. An eight under performance on Saturday, and seven under score on Sunday had him finishing with sole possession of third place, and a tee-time at East Lake.

It looked bleak when Hoffmann made the turn on Sunday at one under par, but four consecutive birdies on the back nine put him close, and the eagle three at 17 punched his ticket to Atlanta.

There were some great shots on Sunday at the BMW Championship, but none better than a shot to the treacherous 17th green from a fairway bunker by Hideki Matsuyama. He had a look at an eagle put, but the birdie put him in the 28th position, and on his way to East Lake.

The heartbreak on Sunday came from Canadian, Graham DeLaet. DeLaet was on the bubble all weekend, and looked to be well inside the top 30 after a five under performance through the 12th hole. Then disaster struck him at 13, and 15 where he picked up a bogey, and double respectfully. A birdie at 17 was too little, too late, and he finished well off the cut line.

The weekend action at Cherry Hills is what these playoffs are all about. It came down to making or missing a putt late in the final round to see who will move on, and whose season is over.

There will be no defending Champion at East Lake, as 2013 FedEx Champ, Henrik Strenson could get nothing going this year or thisw weekend, and finished in 52nd place, and well out of the picture.

There will be only 29 players at East Lake. Dustin Johnson has the 30th position, but is on a voluntary leave of absence.