The Medinah Country Club near Chicago has a long and famous tradition as a home for drama and this year’s BMW Championship could add another chapter to its history.
BMW Championship – The Course
Medinah holds a special place in the hearts of European golf fans.
The Ryder Cup in 2012 became known as the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ as Rory McIlroy inspired a last-day comeback by the Europeans which stunned the home team – and all after the Irishman had need a police escort to get to the course after he’d overslept.
Medinah is an exceptionally long course at 7,613 yards but it requires finesse as well as brute force. Those who conquer it’s challenges have to be proficient both irons and woods. It’s why it has staged the US Open (three times), the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup and, this week, the BMW Championship. Ironically course 3, on which all major championships are staged, was originally desigend to be the ladies’ course at the Illinois country club.
It’s domed clubhouse, complete with towers and minarets, is one of the most recognisable on the PGA Tour.
BMW Championship Past Winners
Year Player Score To par Margin
2018 Keegan Bradley 260 −20 Playoff
2017 Marc Leishman 261 −23 5 strokes
2016 Dustin Johnson 265 −23 3 strokes
2015 Jason Day 262 −22 6 strokes
2014 Billy Horschel 266 −14 2 strokes
2013 Zach Johnson 268 −16 2 strokes
2012 Rory McIlroy 268 −20 2 strokes
2011 Justin Rose 271 −13 2 strokes
2010 Dustin Johnson 275 −9 1 stroke
2009 Tiger Woods 265 −19 8 strokes
2008 Camilo Villegas 265 −15 2 strokes
2007 Tiger Woods 262 −22 2 strokes
The penultimate tournament of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoff, the BMW Championship replaced the Western Open on the schedule in 2007. The Western Open was played nearly continuously since 1899 and, at one time, was considered one of golf’s Majors.
The BMW Championship is a limited field event, open to the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings, following the Deutsche Bank Championship. The top 30 following the BMW go on to the Tour Championship. As a result, class often comes to the fore. Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson have both won it twice in the last 11 years.
BMW Championship – The Leading Contenders
Dustin Johnson has to be respected as a two-times winner of the BMW Championship. A general 14/1, DJ is no back number having won the WGC-Mexico Championship this year. He finished second in both the PGA Championship and the Masters and led at halfway in last week’s Northern Trust Open before accuracy from the tee seemed to desert him.
Justin Thomas‘ stroke play at the Liberty National was exquisite and he just need to get his putting back on track to end a frustrating sequence of top 12 places with a victory. He is too good a player to have gone 25 tournaments since a win and is also a best 14/1.
Medinah will also be close to the heart of Rory McIlroy and it’s not difficult to see the Northern Ireland superstar in the firing-line over the final 18 holes. There appears to be a genuine-but-friendly rivalry developing between McIlroy and Brooks Koepka and they are sharing ante-post favouritism for this tournament at 8/1.
Brooks Koepka is the current world number one and also tops the FedEx Cup rankings so will not want to concede ground at Medinah. Second in both the Masters and the US Open this year as well as winning the PGA Championship, the 29-year-old turns it on in big tournaments like this. A worthy 8/1 joint favourite with McIlroy.
Jon Rahm is a best 11/1 and arrives in arguably the best form of all the major contenders. The Spaniard tied for third in last week’s Northern Trust, his fourth successive finish in the top 11. A winner in New Orleans earlier after creditable efforts in the Players Championship and the Masters, he should justify his place near the head of the market with another solid all-round display.
Patrick Reed can be backed at 25/1 and also goes on the short-list. The Texan won last week’s Northern Trust and has been generally consistent since the US Open in June. He won last year’s Masters, of course, so has no problem competing with the world’s elite on the big stage.
Justin Rose is 18/1 with Betfred and is another arriving in decent form. The Englishman has finished in the top 20 in six of the eight tournaments he’s taken part in since uncharacteristically missing the cut in the Masters. If he can kick the habit of having one ordinary round in four, he’ll be a threat to all.
BMW Championship – Best Of The Rest
Jordan Spieth has had a disappointing season, unable to string together four solid rounds in any one week. But there have been signs lately that he’s starting to settle down again and the 33/1 with Skybet offers decent value considering his pedigree. He certainly has the game for Medinah.
Tony Finau is very interesting at a best 40/1. Third in this year’s Open and fifth in the Masters, he is one of the longest off the tee on the PGA Tour and that will surely stand him in good stead at Medinah. There is an issue with consistency but he has finished sixth and seventh in the last two stagings of the BMW Championship and is obviously a big-stage player.
Ian Poulter, like McIlroy, will also have fond memories of Medinah. He’s been showing signs of a revival lately but has been largely ignored by punters at a general 55/1. At those kind of odds, he’s worth a second look for each-way purposes and is a general 7/4 for a top 20 finish.
BMW Championship Outright Winner Current Best Odds (Selected)
Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy 8/1
Jon Rahm 11/1
Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson 14/1
Justin Rose 18/1
Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed 25/1
Tommy Fleetwood 28/1
Jordan Spieth and Ricky Fowler 33/1
Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele and Louis Oosthuizen 40/1
Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau 45/1
Hideki Matsuyama 50/1
Matt Kuchar, Ian Poulter, Jason Day and Billy Horschel 55/1
Francesco Molinari, Brandt Snedeker and Collin Morikawa 66/1
Gary Woodland 70/1
Abraham Ancer, Shane Lowry, Marc Leishman, Ryan Moore and Kevin Kisner 80/1
Andrew Putnam and Sungjae Im 90/1
Rafael Cabrera Bello and Joaquin Niemann 100/1
(Odds correct at 11.00am August 14)