At the BMW Championship held Sunday at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Md., Scottie Scheffler delivered a pivotal birdie on the 17th hole to edge out Robert MacIntyre by two strokes. This victory marks a dramatic comeback for Scheffler, who finished the tournament with a 3-under-par 67 and a total score of 15-under 265, overtaking MacIntyre, the leader after the first three rounds.

MacIntyre’s Early Dominance Wanes Under Pressure

Robert MacIntyre held the solo lead throughout the initial three rounds, boasting only three bogeys before Sunday. However, his final day proved challenging as he bogeyed three of his first five holes, weakening a four-shot advantage. MacIntyre struggled to find fairways and greens in regulation, managing only one birdie until the par-5 16th hole. His difficulty began immediately, with a two-shot swing on the opening hole favoring Scheffler, who secured birdie while MacIntyre missed a crucial par save after missing both fairway and green.

Scheffler’s Key Moments Amid a Mixed Back Nine

Scheffler’s back nine round was uneven, including two of his three bogeys during the final day. Nevertheless, his pinpoint pitch shot on the challenging par-3 17th was the turning point, with the ball slowly rolling over 12 seconds before dropping in for birdie. Earlier, Scheffler recovered from bogeys at the 12th and 14th holes, maintaining composure as MacIntyre faltered, eventually capturing the lead with a clutch 6-foot birdie putt on the 7th hole to go ahead outright.

Other Notable Performances and Future Outlook

Maverick McNealy posted a bogey-free 66 to claim third place at 11-under, while England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Sam Burns tied for fourth at 10-under. Scheffler, 29, secured his 18th PGA Tour win, all achieved since February 2022, placing him as a frontrunner to defend his title at next week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Implications for the FedEx Cup Playoffs and Beyond

Scheffler’s strong finish under pressure highlights his growing dominance on the PGA Tour and sets an optimistic tone as he approaches the final leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Meanwhile, MacIntyre’s collapse on Sunday will prompt reflection on maintaining consistency at critical moments. This BMW Championship result is likely to influence the momentum and confidence of both players heading into the Tour Championship, making for an exciting conclusion to the season.

“The first hole saw a two-shot swing, as Scheffler played it perfectly for a birdie and MacIntyre missed the fairway, the green and the 7-foot par save.” —Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media
“MacIntyre unraveled. He missed the green in regulation again at Nos. 2 and 5 and failed to save par. The third bogey created a tie with Scheffler at 13 under, and two holes later, Scheffler knocked in a 6-footer for birdie and the outright lead.” —Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media
“Scheffler stuck his approach at the 11th to 3 feet for an easy birdie. His putter acted up on him at Nos. 12 and 14, leading to bogeys from close range, but MacIntyre dropped another shot after missing the green at the par-3 13th.” —Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media