Tommy Fleetwood already had his spot secured at East Lake, but the 2026 BMW Championship proved to be anything but a relaxed warm-up for the Englishman. Although his place in the prestigious FedExCup Playoffs season finale was assured, the 35-year-old delivered a weekend he'd likely prefer to quickly put behind him.
After starting the week 8th in the FedExCup standings, Fleetwood spared no effort in St. Louis over the weekend to test the nerves of his fans. Rounds of 74 on Saturday and 70 on Sunday, including double bogeys on the par-3 6th hole on both days, were far from a stellar performance. The result: one of his worst finishes in a long time and, once again, no second win in 2026.
Frustration, Not Jubilation
The 2026 BMW Championship was the second FedExCup Playoff event, where the top 30 aimed to qualify for the Tour Championship at East Lake. While the pressure to make the Top 30 was already off Fleetwood, his primary goal was to build momentum. He wanted to demonstrate that his form was strong for the grand finale. This was only partially successful, even though he consistently delivered birdies, such as on the 8th hole, at Bellerive Country Club and played in a Featured Group.
East Lake Still Calls
Despite the inconsistent performance, it's worth noting: Fleetwood has had a truly strong 2026 season. With a T-7 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and a T-4 at The Open at Royal Birkdale, he demonstrated he is in top form. His spot in the final is a well-deserved reward for a season in which he consistently contended at the top. Now he can focus on East Lake and perhaps still achieve a major breakthrough there.
