RESULTS OF THE BMW CHAMPIONSHIP OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL AUGUST 17 TO 29, 2023

RESULTS OF THE BMW CHAMPIONSHIP OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL AUGUST 17 TO 29, 2023

Golf Digest rates the top 5 courses in the Chicago area.  #1 Chicago Golf Club, 

#2 Shoreacres Golf Club, #3 Butler National, #4 Medinah, #5 Olympia Fields.

ROUND 1 Rain delay caused a late start.  I was able to pick up coverage on ESPN+ as Golf Channel coverage ended coverage at 7:00PM EST.  Tournament ended about 8:PM EST.

#1 Rory McIlroy-5 65/ 5 birdies, much better start than last week when he finished 1 off lead. 

#2 Brian Harmon-5 65/ 6 birdies 1 bogie, longshot pick at 35/1.

#3 Matt Fitzpatrick-4 66/ 6 birdies but 2 bogies.

#3 Chris Kirk-4 66 One of my sentimental picks at 110/1.

#3 Sahith Theegla-4 66 (90/1) 32 on back 9 with an eagle on #14.

#3 Rickie Fowler-4 66 Missed a 30’ putt on 18 by inches.

#3 Wyndham Clark-4 66 Rocky RD with 3 bogies

#3 Scottie Scheffler-4 66 Came on strong with 4 birdies in 5 holes, 11 to 15.

#12 Jordan Spieth-2 68 Bogied #8 & 9 aft being -3 on first 7 holes.

#12 Jon Rahm-2 68 Not his kind of start, 4 birdies & 2 bogies. 

#12 Max Homa-2/ 3 birdies 1 bogie.   

#31 Hideki Matsuyama +1 71 Shot +5 on last 10 holes.  Been erratic all season. 

#50 Seamus Power+6 76 Finished tied for last #66 last week at +4.  

ROUND 2 Hideka Matsuyama withdraws before 2nd RD with neck problem.

#1 Max Homa-10 62 Course record, 2 bogies 10 birdies.  Made several long putts.

#2 Chris Kirk-8 66 No bogies 4 birdies for 2nd 66 in a row.

#3 Matt Fitzpatrick-7  Great RD but bogies 18, story of his year.

#3 Brian Harman-7/ 2 birdies, 4 birdies, proving his OPEN win was not a fluke.

#5 Rickie Fowler-5 69 He bogies 16 & 18, going the wrong way.

#5 Rory McIlroy-5 70 Just an OK RD, not good enough to win.

#5 Scottie Scheffler-5 69/ 0 bogies 1 birdie, like Rory not good enough to win.

#5 Justin Roe-5 65 Always finds a way, started 4 birdies then finishes with 4 birdies 23 to 5.  

#13 Lucas Glover Putting has been good, not as good as last 2 tournaments.

#20 Jordan Spieth-2 70/ 3 bogies on 1st 9, then 3 birdies on back 9.  Can’t figure this guy out.

ROUND 3 Scottie Scheffler finally finds putting touch, best 3rd RD since the Players.

#1Matt Fitzpatrick-11 66 Bogie on #18 cost him sole possession of first place.

#2 Scottie Scheffler-11 64/ 7birdies, 1 bogie, his best Saturday RD 

#3 Viktor Hovland-8 65 Putting himself in a position to make a run.

#4 Max Homa Plus 4 from #7 to #13

#19 Chris Kirk Total meltdown from #7 to 10 +6.

#23 Rickie Fowler-2 73 Almost as bad, 5 bogies in RD

#38 Jon Rahm+3 71 After 74 in RD 2.  Hard to believe, finished 37th at St Jude.

#49 Taylor Moore 2 DBs, 6 bogies 80.  Finished 5th after being 2nd at St Jude.

FINAL ROUND Hats off to Victor Hovland who shot a course record 61.  He came from 3 back of the two leaders to win by 2 strokes over Fitzpatrick & Scheffler.   Both shot 66 which could have won.  Earlier this year Hovland won the Memorial in a playoff with Danny McCarthy, and is always among the top, even though he sometimes hurts himself with one bad hole.

#1 Viktor Hovland-17 61 He shoots 28 on back 9.  Great win at a prestige tournament $3.7M

#2 Scottie Scheffler-15 66 Best 4 RDs in a long time all in 60’s.         $1.76M

#2 Matt Fitzpatrick-15 66 Same as Scottie but Hovland outplayed everyone.         $1.76M

#4 Rory McIlroy-12 66 He just could not make clutch putts again.         $9.9K

#5 Brian Harman-11 69 He was in contention and proved the OPEN was not a fluke.    $7.9K

#5 Max Homa-11 68 Played very well, especially RD 2.           $7.9K

#49 Taylor Moore+18 72 Bad week over par all 4 RDs.           $.68K