There’s a lot on the line this week outside of Chicago.
Not only are the top 50 battling for the BMW Championship title and an improved starting position at next week’s Tour Championship, but several Americans golfers are fighting for one of the three available automatic qualifying spots for the upcoming Ryder Cup.
Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay are already on the roster, but the final three automatic spots, currently held by Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka and Max Homa, are up for grabs and those three could all slide out of the top six come Sunday night.
Here are some possible scenarios that could unfold at Olympia Fields’ North Course and how they would affect which players walk off the course happy Sunday evening when the automatic qualifiers become official.
Note: Scenarios courtesy of PGATour.com
Minimum finish to have a chance at automatically qualifying
| Xander Schauffele | Two-way T-43 |
| Jordan Spieth | Three-way T-4 |
| Cameron Young | Two-way T-3 |
| Collin Morikawa | Three-way T-2 |
| Keegan Bradley | Three-way T-2 |
| Sam Burns | Solo 2nd |
| Rickie Fowler | Solo 2nd |
| Denny McCarthy | Win |
| Lucas Glover | Win |
| Kurt Kitayama | Win |
There are 10 golfers in the running for one of the three remaining automatic spots and three of those 10 need to win the BMW this week to lock up a spot. None of those three have ever played on a U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Koepka loses his spot if two of these scenarios happen
| Max Homa | Two-way T9 |
| Xander Schauffele | Solo-9th |
| Jordan Spieth | Solo-3rd |
| Cameron Young | Two-way T2 |
| Collin Morikawa | Solo-2nd |
| Keegan Bradley | Solo-2nd |
| Sam Burns | Win |
| Rickie Fowler | Win |
| Denny McCarthy | Win |
| Lucas Glover | Win |
| Kurt Kitayama | Win |
Brooks Koepka appears to be the only LIV golfer in the conversaton for a Ryder Cup spot. He’s currently fifth but his situation with an automatic spot could get precarious should one of these guys make a move at Olympia Fields.
Harman loses his spot if...
Brian Harman, who shot up the Ryder Cup standings after winning the Open Championship and is currently fourth, could be bumped out of the top six if Max Homa and Xander Schauffele finish in a two-way tie for second and Jordan Spieth, Cameron Young, Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley Sam Burns or Rickie Fowler wins.
Finish to guarantee a spot in the top 6
| Brian Harman | Solo-20th |
| Max Homa | Runner-up finish (any ties) |
| Xander Schauffele | Solo-2nd |
| Jordan Spieth | Solo-2nd |
| Cameron Young | Win |
| Collin Morikawa | Win |
| Keegan Bradley | Win |
