Important week for Theegala, Bhatia, Rai at BMW Champs on PGA

Last week Hideki Matsuyama, after leading by five at one time, had to birdie the last two holes to win the St Jude Championships. He became the first Asian to win a Play-off event and it was his 10th PGA Tour win, the highest from the continent.

Last week Bhatia was T-12, Rai was T-16 and Theegala was way behind in T-46, but all three have entered the second of the three Play-offs events.

World No 2 Xander Schauffele, a two-time major winner in 2024, was tied second last week with Viktor Hovland, while World No 1 Scottie Scheffler was fourth last week, though World No 3 Rory McIlroy had a poor week in T-68 place.

Among Asians Korea's Si Woo Kim has all to play for at the BMW Championship, the second of three FedExCup Playoffs events, in Colorado this week, with two big goals providing the drive for him to step up his game.

The four-time PGA TOUR winner tees up at Castle Pines Golf Club to break into the top 30 of the FedExCup points list and qualify for the Playoffs Finale, the TOUR Championship next week. Kim is presently ranked 44th after last week's FedEx St. Jude Championship.

A strong week is also required for Kim to keep alive his hopes of earning a spot in the International Team to face the US Team in the Presidents Cup in Royal Montreal next month.

Currently 14th on the team roster, the top-6 after this week's BMW Championship will secure automatic spots, with captain Mike Weir naming six more picks after the TOUR Championship.

Compatriots Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An, who are 10th and 15th respectively on the FedExCup rankings, are virtually assured of teeing up at the TOUR Championship, which will use a staggered-scoring format based on positions after this week.

Irrespective of how his week plays out, Kim is pleased to secure his top-50 status, which guarantees starts in all eight Signature tournaments next season. (ANI)