Scottie Scheffler heads to Bellerive Country Club fresh off an eight-shot rout in Memphis, as the FedExCup Playoffs field narrows to 50 for the year’s penultimate event. Here’s how to follow every round from the UAE.
The FedExCup Playoffs move to St. Louis this week for the BMW Championship, the second of three events that will decide the PGA Tour’s 2026 season-long champion. With the field cut from 70 to 50 after last week in Memphis, every round at Bellerive Country Club carries direct consequences for who reaches the Tour Championship.
What is the BMW Championship?
The BMW Championship runs from Thursday, August 20 to Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri, a par-70 layout measuring 7,448 yards. It’s the club’s first time hosting a PGA Tour event since the 2018 PGA Championship, and its first BMW Championship since 2008.
Only the top 50 players in the FedExCup standings following the FedEx St. Jude Championship qualify, and like the opening playoff event, there’s no 36-hole cut, meaning all 50 play every round. After Sunday, the field narrows again to the top 30, who advance to the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta, August 27-30.
The purse at Bellerive is $20 million, with $3.6 million going to the winner. The stakes rise sharply the following week: the Tour Championship purse jumps to $40 million, with $10 million to the champion and a guaranteed $355,000 for every player who reaches it.
The story so far
Scottie Scheffler arrives as the man to beat after a commanding eight-shot win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, finishing at 17-under to claim his 21st PGA Tour title and second win of the 2026 season. The victory extended his lead at the top of the FedExCup standings heading into Bellerive.
Rory McIlroy’s week in Memphis went the other way, a tie for 66th that was his worst finish of the playoffs so far. It hasn’t put his season at risk: McIlroy sits around 13th in the FedExCup standings, a position built on his win at the Masters earlier this year, and he arrives at Bellerive with his Tour Championship spot already effectively secure.
The bigger story further down the standings is who didn’t make it this far at all. Jordan Spieth, Max Homa, Keith Mitchell, Harris English, Shane Lowry, Corey Conners and Brian Harman were among the players who finished outside the top 50 in Memphis and saw their seasons end there. Sungjae Im moved the other way, climbing from 53rd to 40th on the strength of a tied-for-fifth finish, while Matt McCarty claimed the last available spot at exactly No. 50.
That bubble tension shifts to the top-30 line this week, with players in the high-20s to mid-30s of the standings again playing four rounds that could end, or extend, their season.
Broadcast times – Gulf Standard Time
Round 1 (Thursday, August 20): Live coverage runs from approximately 6:00 pm to 3:00 am GST.
Round 2 (Friday, August 21): Live coverage runs from approximately 6:00 pm to 3:00 am GST.
Round 3 (Saturday, August 22): Live coverage runs from approximately 9:00 pm to 2:00 am GST.
Round 4 (Sunday, August 23): Live coverage runs from approximately 8:00 pm to 2:00 am GST.
Times are approximate and based on the US broadcast schedule converted to GST; always check the live schedule closer to broadcast.
How to watch in the UAE and MENA
For live scores, leaderboard updates and the latest from Bellerive Country Club, head to , updated throughout the tournament.
FAQ
When is the BMW Championship 2026?
It’s being played from Thursday, August 20 to Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri.
Who qualifies for the BMW Championship?
The top 50 players in the FedExCup standings after the FedEx St. Jude Championship qualify. There’s no 36-hole cut, so all 50 play every round.
What happens after the BMW Championship?
The top 30 players in the FedExCup standings after Sunday’s final round advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake, August 27-30, where the purse rises to $40 million and the winner becomes FedExCup champion.
Is Rory McIlroy playing the BMW Championship?
Yes. McIlroy sits around 13th in the FedExCup standings despite a tie for 66th at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, and is on course to reach the Tour Championship.
How can I watch the BMW Championship in the UAE?
Follow live scores and updates throughout the tournament via Golf Digest Middle East’s Live Golf hub
Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media
Main Image: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images