\u201cI would definitely like to take a little stress off Sneds’ plate by playing really well and earning my spot but we all know that we\u2019re not entitled to anything, so, I just need to go out and take care of my business on the course,\u201d he said. \u201cI would love to just earn my way and not have to be on the chopping block for a pick.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"J.J.](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/86308481007-getty-images-2236917438.jpg\")
There\u2019s a lot on the line this week at the BMW Championship, including FedEx Cup<\/a> season-long bonuses, advancing to the Tour Championship next week for the top 30 as well as the top six in the U.S. Presidents Cup standings at the conclusion of the week automatically qualifying for the 12-man team.<\/p>\n Spaun, who entered the week at No. 10 in the U.S. team point standings, has sent a message that is crystal clear with rounds of 64-66 at Bellerive Country Club to sit in third at the midway point of the BMW Championship. He\u2019s locked up a berth in the Tour Championship and won earlier this year at the Valero Texas Open in April, but even with his surge up the leaderboard he\u2019s only projected to move up to seventh and needs to make up another 80.790 points to vault into one of the automatic qualifier spots.<\/p>\n \u201cThey want guys that are peaking at the right time and I want to show them that I am playing well and I’m still in good form and can be an asset to the team in September,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Explore how to live where you love to play Access community guides, golf real estate insights, trusted agent connections, and content built for passionate golfers.<\/a><\/p>\n Spaun isn\u2019t the only one thinking about securing his position on the team. Wyndham Clark is the 36-hole leader at 12-under 128 and the U.S. Open<\/a> champ is projected to surge from No. 7 and being the odd-man out at the start of the week all way to No. 3.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m playing my hardest to try to get one of those last six spots,\u201d Clark said.\u00a0\u201cI would prefer to be an automatic qualifier because I don’t want to leave it up to chance. So, that’s definitely on my mind a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Chris Gotterup, a three-time winner this season, also is projected to go from the outside looking in \u2013 he entered the week at No. 8 in the standings \u2013 to being the last automatic qualifier thanks to shooting 9-under 131, which is good enough for a share of fourth place with Sungjae Im.<\/p>\n Gotterup has bumped Collin Morikawa, who\u00a0entered the week on the hot seat at sixth but despite being T-8 so far, he\u2019s projected to fall to eighth and trails by 106.434 points.<\/p>\n![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/90819418007-screen-shot-1783344251797.jpg\")