The BMW Championship is a professional golf tournament which is the penultimate FedEx Cup playoff event on the PGA Tour schedule. Introduced in 2007, the BMW Championship was previously known as the Western Open. The Western Golf Association, which founded and ran the Western Open, runs the BMW Championship. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, the PGA Tour named the BMW Championship its Tournament of the Year. The BMW Championship is the longest running regular PGA Tour event on the calendar outside of the four major tournaments.

Western Open

The Western Open was first played 127 years ago in 1899. For many years, the Western was played in and out of the state of Illinois, before eventually settling down in the Chicago area. The Western Golf Association (WGA) ran the Western Open throughout its entire history (1899–2006), and continues to run the tournament under its new title. These are, however, two entirely different events in terms of playing format and invitational criteria. The Western Open was like any other regular PGA Tour stop – although it was once considered to be one of golf's majors. The BMW Championship is part of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and only the leading FedEx Cup points earners at the start of the BMW event are eligible to play.

Tournament format

The BMW Championship is open to the leading FedEx Cup points earners on the PGA Tour following the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Through 2022, the top 70 players were qualified, after which it was reduced to the top 50. With a limited field, there is no 36-hole cut. The top 30 in the FedEx Cup points list following the BMW Championship advance to The Tour Championship, where the FedEx Cup champion is decided.

Winners

YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of victoryRunner(s)-upPurse ($)Winner's share ($)Venue
2025United States Scottie Scheffler265−152 strokesScotland Robert MacIntyre20,000,0003,600,000Caves Valley
2024United States Keegan Bradley (2)276−121 strokeSweden Ludvig Åberg United States Sam Burns Australia Adam Scott20,000,0003,600,000Castle Pines
2023Norway Viktor Hovland263−172 strokesEngland Matt Fitzpatrick United States Scottie Scheffler20,000,0003,600,000Olympia Fields
2022United States Patrick Cantlay (2)270−141 strokeUnited States Scott Stallings15,000,0002,700,000Wilmington
2021United States Patrick Cantlay261−27PlayoffUnited States Bryson DeChambeau9,500,0001,710,000Caves Valley
2020Spain Jon Rahm276−4PlayoffUnited States Dustin Johnson9,500,0001,710,000Olympia Fields
2019United States Justin Thomas263−253 strokesUnited States Patrick Cantlay9,250,0001,665,000Medinah
2018United States Keegan Bradley260−20PlayoffEngland Justin Rose9,000,0001,620,000Aronimink
2017Australia Marc Leishman261−235 strokesUnited States Rickie Fowler England Justin Rose8,750,0001,575,000Conway Farms
2016United States Dustin Johnson (2)265−233 strokesEngland Paul Casey8,500,0001,530,000Crooked Stick
2015Australia Jason Day262−226 strokesUnited States Daniel Berger8,250,0001,485,000Conway Farms
2014United States Billy Horschel266−142 strokesUnited States Bubba Watson8,000,0001,440,000Cherry Hills
2013United States Zach Johnson268−162 strokesUnited States Nick Watney8,000,0001,440,000Conway Farms
2012Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy268−202 strokesUnited States Phil Mickelson England Lee Westwood8,000,0001,440,000Crooked Stick
2011England Justin Rose271−132 strokesAustralia John Senden8,000,0001,440,000Cog Hill
2010United States Dustin Johnson275−91 strokeEngland Paul Casey7,500,0001,350,000Cog Hill
2009United States Tiger Woods (5)265−198 strokesUnited States Jim Furyk Australia Marc Leishman7,500,0001,350,000Cog Hill
2008Colombia Camilo Villegas265−152 strokesUnited States Dudley Hart7,000,0001,260,000Bellerive
2007United States Tiger Woods (4)262−222 strokesAustralia Aaron Baddeley7,000,0001,260,000Cog Hill

Host venues

Four of the first five editions of the BMW Championship were held at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, which had hosted the Western Open since 1991. Since 2011, no course has hosted in consecutive years, with the tournament moving throughout the Midwest and sometimes venturing into Colorado as well as the Mid-Atlantic region. The Chicago metropolitan area remains the most frequent location, having hosted the event ten times at four different courses.

VenueLocationFirstLastTimes
Cog Hill Golf & Country ClubLemont, Illinois200720114
Conway Farms Golf ClubLake Forest, Illinois201320173
Crooked Stick Golf ClubCarmel, Indiana201220162
Olympia Fields Country Club (North Course)Olympia Fields, Illinois202020232
Caves Valley Golf ClubOwings Mills, Maryland202120252
Bellerive Country ClubTown and Country, Missouri20081
Cherry Hills Country ClubCherry Hills Village, Colorado20141
Aronimink Golf ClubNewtown Square, Pennsylvania20181
Medinah Country Club (Course 3)Medinah, Illinois20191
Wilmington Country ClubWilmington, Delaware20221
Castle Pines Golf ClubCastle Rock, Colorado20241

Future sites

YearCourseLocation
2026Bellerive Country ClubTown and Country, Missouri
2027Liberty National Golf ClubJersey City, New Jersey

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External links

39°27′04″N 76°44′38″W/39.451°N 76.744°W/ 39.451; -76.744