Scottie Scheffler delivered an opening round at the 2026 BMW Championship that his fans would probably prefer to forget immediately. The reigning FedEx St. Jude Championship winner, who last week triumphed decisively by eight strokes, suddenly found himself in the bottom third of the 50-man field on the first day of the BMW Championship with a 2-over 72 – specifically at T44/T49. A real shock after his recent dominance.
What happened? The golf giant stumbled unusually early on the greens of Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. After two solid pars, the drama began on hole 3, followed by bogeys on holes 4 and 5. A three-bogey run, which for Scheffler represents the worst streak of its kind throughout the entire 2026 PGA Tour season, showing that even the greatest can falter.
When the Favorite Struggles
He had started the week as the clear favorite and FedEx Cup leader. But instead of delivering his usual precise shots, Scheffler looked as if he had left his usually reliable bogey-avoidance strategy at the hotel. Four bogeys on his first seven holes – a barrage of strokes that made even the most loyal golfers shake their heads. The 3-over on the front nine was an unusual sight, showing the otherwise consistently strong player as we rarely see him. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy was already among the early leaders, delivering a strong round.
Tough Fight for Momentum
The tournament at Bellerive Country Club, with a hefty prize purse of $20 million and a par-70 course, is not just a battle for the title for Scheffler, but also for crucial momentum. A weak round like this doesn't jeopardize his lead in the FedEx Cup rankings, but it could cast a shadow over his mental preparation for the season finale in East Lake. The question is: Can Scheffler shake off this unusual slump and conjure up a stellar round in the remaining days? It remains exciting to see how the defending BMW Championship champion will react to this setback.
