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McIlroy Shoots 64 to Share BMW Championship Lead

8/21/2026

Summary

McIlroy Leads

Rory McIlroy shot a six-under 64 to share the lead at the BMW Championship in St Louis.
He tied with U.S. Open champions Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun and Chris Gotterup at six under.
He birdied four of his last six holes, including 13, 15, 17 and 18.
The 64 secured his spot in the season-ending Tour Championship, where he sits 13th in the standings.

Summary

Spieth Defends Tour

He defended large PGA Tour purses, saying market demand justifies prize money.
He argued tournaments should emphasize history rather than let prize money dominate.
He questioned whether LIV Golf added any value to professional golf.
He blamed Phil Mickelson for urging players to join LIV, saying dialogue would have prevented split.
He missed his daughter Poppy’s first school day on Aug. 19 because the BMW Championship conflicted with his post-divorce schedule.

History

Historical Context

When the PGA Tour introduced the FedEx Cup in 2007, Tiger Woods captured the inaugural $10 million bonus, establishing a points-based season finale. Adjustments in 2008 and 2013 tied playoff performance and tour-card status to FedEx points, while the 2019 pool grew to $70 million, intensifying financial stakes and prompting ongoing governance debates.

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McIlroy Leads

Rory McIlroy shot a six-under 64 to share the lead at the BMW Championship in St Louis.
He tied with U.S. Open champions Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun and Chris Gotterup at six under.
He birdied four of his last six holes, including 13, 15, 17 and 18.
The 64 secured his spot in the season-ending Tour Championship, where he sits 13th in the standings.

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