The 2023 PGA Tour season is almost in its final leg with just a few thrilling tournaments left. During the end, golfers start looking forward to the FedEx Cup, which is a combination of three tournaments, called as the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The Playoffs are an extremely interesting affair for golfers, and fans alike, and keep everyone on the edge. The three tournaments that constitute the FedEx Cup Playoffs are the St. Jude Championship, BMW Championship, and lastly the Tour Championship. 

Just like the overall changes in the FedEx Cup rules, there have been some significant changes in the penultimate tournament in the series. Today, we will dwell on the rich history and interesting format of the BMW Championship. 

When and how did the BMW Championship come into being?

BMW Championship was first introduced almost 16 years ago in 2007 by the Western Golf Association. The penultimate event in the FedEx Cup Playoffs series was earlier known as the Western Open. BMW Championship, even after getting its name changed is still run by the same association. 

In the years 2012, 2013, and 2014, BMW Championship was named the Tournament of the Year by the PGA Tour. Interestingly, BMW Championship is also the longest-running regular event on the PGA Tour calendar, other than the four major tournaments, namely, The Masters, The PGA Championship, The US Open, and The Open Championship. 

A look into the old BMW Championship: The Western Open 

It was the year 1899 when the Western Open was first played. In the initial years, the Western Open was played near Illinois, and then it eventually found its home in Chicago. The Western Golf Association ran the tournament ever since its inception in 1899 and till 2006. The BMW Championship, the new title is still managed by its founding association. The Western Open was considered to be a regular PGA Tour event where the PGA Tour pros would compete, whereas the criteria and format of the BMW Championship are entirely distinct. 

Past Winners of the BMW Championship 

Format of the BMW Championship 

The BMW Championship will now be open to the top 50 players following the conclusion of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The BMW Championship has no 36-hole cut policy like other PGA Tour events. From the 50 who compete in the BMW Championship, the top 30 will go forward to compete at East Lake.

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The Top 70 players to compete in the first playoff are decided by the cumulative FedEx points that the players have collated during the season. 

Past locations of the second-last FedEx Cup Playoff

Initially, before becoming the BMW Championship, the Western Open was organized at Cog Hill Golf & Country in Illnois, just Southwest of Chicago. After the tournament was renamed, in 2008 it was held at Bellerive Country Club in Missouri. 

In 2012, the location was again changed to Indiana at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, a town situated in north of Indianapolis. The reason the BMW Championship was moved was that that year was because the Ryder Cup was being contested at a nearby venue, namely, the Medinah Country Club. Then again after 2 years, in 2014, the penultimate event was moved to Colorado, being held at Cherry Hills Country Club, located in the south of Denver.

The next year, BMW Championship moved to Illinois again at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest. For 2016, the event returned to Indianapolis again at Crooked Stick, and in 2017, the venue was the same as in 2015. 

Upcoming golf courses for the BMW Championship 

As fans are eagerly waiting to watch the upcoming 2023 BMW Championship, what are your thoughts on it? Who do you think has a higher chance of getting crowned as the FedEx Cup Champion this year? Tell us your pick below!

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