2021 BMW Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Caves Valley

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Sep 8, 2018; Newtown Square, PA, USA; The J.K. Wadley championship trophy on display at the 1st tee during the third round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Aronimink GC. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The second of three FedEx Cup Playoff tournaments is upon us this week with the BMW Championship. This event has been held at a variety of courses, traditionally in the midwest or northeast.

We’re in the latter region this week at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland.

The course is a Tom Fazio design that opened in 1991. Its bonafides include hosting the 1995 U.S. Mid-Am, 2002 U.S. Senior Open, 2005 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship, 2007 Palmer Cup, 2009 NCAA Women’s Division I Championship and 2017 Constellation Senior Players.

Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel, Webb Simpson, Brian Harman and Chris Kirk all represented team U.S.A. in the ’07 Palmer Cup.

Johnson also competed in the 2005 NCAAs, as did 2021 BMW Championship participants Kirk, Kevin Kisner and Alex Noren.

How much this course knowledge will matter over a decade later is hard to say. The course has been lengthened and renovated in the meantime. But some faint memories of Caves Valley seemingly can’t hurt.

Especially when those who made The Northern Trust cut last week won’t get to check out the course until Tuesday.

Caves Valley measures 7,226 yards for a par 71. It’s known for its fast greens, rolling fairways and plentiful water hazards. It’s a very exclusive private club that expects to be in pristine condition for the field of 69 players.

Patrick Reed will be the only absent player in the BMW Championship field as he is out with an ankle injury and bilateral pneumonia. Louis Oosthuizen is listed in the field after he withdrew from The Northern Trust, citing a neck injury. Collin Morikawa has also been battling a bad neck but is slated to give it a go after a missed cut last week.

There are a lot of land movement and elevation changes. Some are natural, but Fazio moved a lot of earth as he does at most of his courses. The rough is reportedly thick.

Long hitters should carry a lot of fairway bunkers this week and could have an advantage this week.

The weather forecast hints at rain late in the tournament, which would also help big hitters carry it far.

Let’s dive into the top 10 best bets to win in the suburbs of Baltimore:

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