One week from now, half of the U.S. Ryder Cup team will be set.
But first, the BMW Championship, the second leg of the FedExCup playoffs, will be played at Olympia Fields just outside of Chicago. The top six in the U.S. Ryder Cup Rankings will qualify for Rome following this week, and then six captain’s picks will be made after the Tour Championship.
Here are four players on the Ryder Cup bubble who could use a good week to ensure a spot on the U.S. Team.
Collin Morikawa
Current points position: 10
Minimum finish needed to jump into the top 6: Three-way tie for second
At Olympia Fields’ U.S. Amateur Championship in 2015, Robby Shelton said: "It’s a ball strikers golf course. You can’t really putt your way around the course." Therefore, this track should suit Morikawa well, as he’s second this season in Strokes Gained: Approach.
At the 2020 BMW Championship — the first and last time the Tour's penultimate event was played at Olympia Fields — Morikawa shot 76-73 to open the event, before finishing with consecutive 68s to place T-20. Regardless of how he fares the rest of this season, it would be a shock if the two-time major champion isn't on his second straight U.S. Team. But if Morikawa can build off his solid T-13 last week in Memphis — maybe even ending his winless drought that dates back to the 2021 Open Championship — the 26-year-old would be eliminating any doubt that he will be in Rome come September.
Keegan Bradley
Current points position: 11
Minimum finish needed to jump into the top 6: Three-way tie for second
The two-time Ryder Cupper currently has a strong case for making his first U.S. Team in nearly a decade. However, if another bubble player goes on a Lucas Glover-esque run to close out the season, that could leave Bradley on the outside looking in. Since his win at the Travelers Championship, Bradley’s results are T-21-MC-T-34. Deja vu, though, would serve the 37-year-old well. In 2018, Bradley won the BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. Now, he looks to win at Olympia Fields despite having not played there in 2020. If history — sort of — repeats itself, he’ll be a shoo-in for Rome.
Sam Burns
Current points position: 12
Minimum finish needed to jump into the top 6: Solo second
A maiden Ryder Cup berth is dangling in front of the 27-year-old, but he’s struggled to set himself ahead in the race to Rome, with only 1 top-10 since his win in March at the WGC-Dell Match Play. However, this is a course that was kind to long-hitters in 2020 as it boasts a 7,366-yard layout — and Burns is 17th on Tour in driving distance (311.5). Sitting 30th in the FedExCup standings after a T-52 in Memphis, Burns is currently the last man in the Tour Championship. Therefore, he’ll need a good performance to lock up a trip to East Lake, which could also give him one extra week to make a case for a captain’s pick if a win or runner-up doesn’t come at Olympia Fields.
Rickie Fowler
Current points position: 13
Minimum finish needed to jump into the top 6: Solo second
He’s still in a good position in the FedExCup standings at 12th, but has fallen back in the Ryder Cup race. The 34-year-old was on a heater leading into his victory at last month’s Rocket Mortgage Classic — where he ended a 1,610-day winless drought — with three top-10s and a T-13 in four starts. But since then, Fowler has finished T-42-T-23-T-28. Having played four Ryder Cups since 2010 drastically helps his bid for a captain’s pick — not to mention he’s a beloved teammate. But riding his iron play (seventh on Tour this season in Strokes Gained: Approach) to a strong finish in Chicago would secure a trip to Rome next month.
