Jordan Spieth, Jason Day To Battle at BMW Championship for FedEx Top Seeding
At the conclusion of the BMW Championship, which will be played this week outside Chicago, it’s likely that Jordan Spieth or Jason Day will emerge as the top seed going into the Tour Championship. But neither one is a lock for the top spot because it depends on the play of several other golfers.
More from Jordan Spieth
- Zach Johnson’s Ryder Cup Picks Add Proven Winners, Comfy Partners, Good Putters
- Bubble Burst? Jordan Spieth is in danger of missing out
- Playoffs Finally Delivering The Kind of Excitement Promised
- Rahm, Rory, Spieth, Harman and The Weather Surprise at British Open
- Hard to Overlook McIlroy, Spieth, Day, and Rain at British Open
The big goal is to be in the top five heading into the Tour Championship, because a victory by anyone in the top five there equals winning the FedEx Cup top prize worth $10 million. Any player at the top starting the Tour Championship has an easier path to the $10 million because it’s hard to get enough points to beat him.
Day, currently leading in FedEx points, is in slightly less peril than Spieth for obtaining the top seeding for the finale in Atlanta. Here is how he could emerge on top.
Day’s path can only be thwarted by four players. Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson and, of course, Spieth.
Live Feed
FanSided
If Rickie Fowler wins the BMW, the 2000 winner’s points could vault him over Day’s position if Day finishes lower than second.
If Stenson wins the BMW, Day must finish third or better to keep the top seed going into the Tour Championship.
If Watson wins the BWM, Day must finish third or better to retain the top spot.
If Spieth wins the BWM, there is nothing Day can do. He will lose the top seed to Spieth.
It does not matter what any other player in the top 70 in points does at the BMW. They will still not have more points than Day and will not be seeded ahead of him.
Spieth has a harder road and needs help from more players to attain the top seed at the end of this week. Spieth needs Day to finish more than 511 points behind him, whether that means Spieth finishes second and Day finishes fourth, or whether it means that Spieth finishes fourth and Day finishes 64th. It just needs to be some combination where Spieth earns 512 or more points than Day. Its the only way for him to get to the top going into Atlanta. That’s without regard to what anyone else might do.
Live Feed
Betsided
Spieth can also be challenged by five other players: Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson, Charley Hoffman and Zach Johnson.
If Rickie Fowler finishes fourth or lower, Spieth tops him no matter where he finishes. If Fowler wins the BMW, Spieth cannot become top seed.
If Stenson finishes third or lower, he cannot top Spieth. If Stenson wins the BMW, Spieth must finish second to gain the top seeding at the Tour Championship.
If Bubba Watson wins the BMW, Spieth must finish second to stay ahead of him.
But there are other players who can kibosh Spieth’s chances to go to the Tour Championship as top seed.
If Charley Hoffman wins the BMW, Spieth has to finish 37th or better to stay ahead of him. If Zach Johnson wins the BMW, Spieth has to finish 52nd or better.
Live Feed
FanSided
It does not matter what any other player in the top 70 in points does at the BMW. They will still not be seeded ahead of Spieth.
So when the battle for the BMW title begins to take shape starting Thursday, Day and Speith have the best chances to go to the Tour Championship on top. However, if they are playing poorly, they can give up their position to others.
Get out your calculator, your FedEx points and the point distribution list for this one, because that’s the only way you’ll know who is where at the end of the week.
Top ten on the points list and how far they are behind Jason Day:
| 1 | Jason Day | 4,680 | |
| 2 | Jordan Spieth | 4,169 | -511 |
| 3 | Rickie Fowler | 3,498 | -1,182 |
| 4 | Henrik Stenson | 3,352 | -1,328 |
| 5 | Bubba Watson | 3,329 | -1,351 |
| 6 | Charley Hoffman | 2,302 | -2,378 |
| 7 | Zach Johnson | 2,241 | -2,439 |
| 8 | Dustin Johnson | 2,114 | -2,566 |
| 9 | Jim Furyk | 2,087 | -2,593 |
| 10 | Patrick Reed | 2,039 | -2,641 |
For complete points explanation see PGATour.com
Next: 2015 BMW Championship Power Rankings
More from Pro Golf Now
- Golf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning deal
- Fantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player Selections
- Brutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024
- Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at Concession
- Fantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament