BMW Championship, US Amateur, LIV Season Champ

Welcome to Duffer’s Digest, your premier source for golf news!

This week, Scottie Scheffler dominated the BMW Championship, the U.S. Ryder Cup team locked in its six automatic qualifiers, the Tour Championship field was finalized, Mason Howell made history at the U.S. Amateur, and Jon Rahm’s LIV Player of the Year award ignited debate.

Let’s tee up the action!

• Scheffler’s BMW Championship Masterclass

• Tour Championship Field Set

• Mason Howell’s Historic U.S. Amateur Victory

• Rahm’s LIV Player of the Year Sparks Debate

Tournament Recap 🏌️

Scheffler’s BMW Championship Masterclass

Scottie Scheffler delivered a stellar performance at the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club, finishing at 15-under to secure a two-shot victory over Robert MacIntyre, who posted 13-under on August 17.

MacIntyre surged early with a 62 and 64, holding a five-shot lead after 36 holes. But Scheffler, with substitute caddie Michael Cromie (filling in for Ted Scott), countered with a bogey-free 65 in Round 2 and a clutch chip-in birdie on the 71st hole, clinching his fifth PGA Tour win of 2025. This $3.6 million victory, plus 2,000 FedExCup points, solidifies Scheffler as the PGA Tour Player of the Year favorite.

With two majors and an 88.2% top-10 finish rate across 17 starts, he’s the man to beat at the Tour Championship, aiming for a second straight FedExCup.

Noteworthy Stories ✍🏻

Tour Championship Field Set

The BMW Championship finalized the top 30 players for the Tour Championship at East Lake, starting August 21.

Scottie Scheffler leads the FedExCup standings, followed by Rory McIlroy (No. 2), J.J. Spaun (No. 3), Justin Rose (No. 4), and Sepp Straka (No. 5). Russell Henley, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Thomas, Harris English, and Lucas Glover, who edged Sam Stevens by 27 points for No. 30, round out the field.

Notable players missing out include Jordan Spieth, Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Jake Knapp, and Min Woo Lee, whose seasons ended after the FedEx St. Jude Championship. At the BMW, Sam Stevens (No. 31), Ryan Gerard (No. 32), and Daniel Berger (No. 33) fell just short.

The Tour Championship will feature a 72-hole stroke-play format with all players starting at even par, a shift from prior staggered scoring. The winner will claim a $25 million bonus.

Mason Howell’s Historic U.S. Amateur Victory

Eighteen-year-old Mason Howell etched his name in golf history by winning the U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club in San Francisco on August 17, becoming the third-youngest champion ever.

Howell dominated Jackson Herrington 7 and 6 in the 36-hole final, showcasing remarkable composure. His victory earns exemptions into the 2026 Masters and U.S. Open, marking him as a future star alongside teenage winners like Bobby Jones and Tiger Woods.

Rahm’s LIV Player of the Year Sparks Debate

Jon Rahm was named LIV Golf’s 2025 Player of the Year, despite not winning a single tournament. His consistent high finishes and points total edged out Joaquin Niemann, who claimed five victories.

The decision has fueled debate on X, with critics arguing Niemann’s wins should have prevailed, while others defend Rahm’s steady performance. The controversy highlights the tension between rewarding consistency versus victories, keeping LIV Golf in the headlines.

U.S. Ryder Cup: Six Automatic Qualifiers Confirmed

The BMW Championship locked in the six automatic qualifiers for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, set for Bethpage Black from September 26-28. Based on the provided points standings, they are:

1. Scottie Scheffler (37,180.33 points) – World No. 1, third Ryder Cup (2-2-3 record).
2. J.J. Spaun (14,851.91 points) – U.S. Open champion, Ryder Cup debut.
3. Xander Schauffele (13,733.52 points) – Major winner, third Ryder Cup (4-4-0 record).
4. Russell Henley (12,276.82 points) – Arnold Palmer Invitational winner, Ryder Cup rookie.
5. Harris English (10,880.55 points) – Two major runner-ups, second Ryder Cup (2021).
6. Bryson DeChambeau (10,774.98 points) – LIV’s 2024 U.S. Open champion, third Ryder Cup (2-3-1 record).

Ryder Cup Points Standings (Top 15, as of August 17):

1. Scottie Scheffler – 37,180.33
2. J.J. Spaun – 14,851.91
3. Xander Schauffele – 13,733.52
4. Russell Henley – 12,276.82
5. Harris English – 10,880.55
6. Bryson DeChambeau – 10,774.98
7. Justin Thomas – 10,467.26
8. Collin Morikawa – 10,049.44
9. Ben Griffin – 9,745.76
10. Maverick McNealy – 8,913.65
11. Keegan Bradley – 8,435.00
12. Brian Harman – 7,466.91
13. Andrew Novak – 7,300.48
14. Cameron Young – 7,209.64
15. Patrick Cantlay – 6,716.39

Captain’s Picks Outlook: U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley (No. 11) will announce his six captain’s picks on August 27 after the Tour Championship.

Justin Thomas (No. 7, 6-2-2 Ryder Cup record) and Collin Morikawa (No. 8, 2021 team member) are near-locks.

Ben Griffin (No. 9) and Maverick McNealy (No. 10, T5 at BMW) are strong contenders for debut spots.

Patrick Cantlay (No. 15), Brian Harman (No. 12), and Cameron Young (No. 14) bring experience, while Andrew Novak (No. 13) and Sam Burns (No. 16) are in the mix.

Bradley could select himself, a rare move last seen with Arnold Palmer in 1963.

LIV’s Brooks Koepka (No. 76, 906.25 points) faces long odds despite his major pedigree.

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That’s a wrap for this week’s Duffer’s Digest!

With the Tour Championship and Ryder Cup picks looming, golf’s drama is at its peak.

Join us next week for the FedExCup finale and Bradley’s final U.S. team selections.

Swing easy, folks!

— The Duffer’s Crew