Indian-American golfer Akshay Bhatia is closing in on a Tour Championship berth after a steady second round at the BMW Championship, climbing from T-46th to T-37th with a 1-under 69 and moving to 4-over for 36 holes. With the field shaping up, Bhatia is currently projected 32nd but must crack the top 30 to secure a spot in the season-ending feast at East Lake.
At the head of the leaderboard, Scotsman Robert MacIntyre stretched his advantage to five strokes with a 14-under total of 126 after back-to-back bogey-free rounds of 62 and 64. MacIntyre’s cushion is substantial as the weekend approaches, and he carried the last five-shot lead at the RBC Canadian Open in 2024 as a reminder of his ability to close out strong.
Rounding out the majors-sized group chasing, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler signed for a 65 to stay within striking distance, five back of MacIntyre. Rory McIlroy also put himself in the mix with a solid 66 after an early hiccup, setting up what should be an energetic weekend as the final playoff event narrows the field for Tour Championship eligibility.
What to watch as the weekend unfolds:
– Bhatia’s push for a Top 30 finish. If he can string together a low round and stay clean on the greens, another strong round could vault him into the final cut for the championship.
– MacIntyre’s asked-for consistency. With a sizable lead, the question becomes whether he can maintain composure and minimize mistakes under pressure on the weekend.
– The chasing pack behind MacIntyre. Scheffler and McIlroy will look to make a run and disrupt the leaderboard, turning the final rounds into a high-stakes scramble for the last few spots.
Summary note: The BMW Championship is delivering weekend drama as Bhatia fights to move into the Tour Championship field, while MacIntyre seeks a dominant run to cement his position, and the likes of Scheffler and McIlroy push to close the gap. The next two rounds will determine who earns one of golf’s most coveted playoff berths. A hopeful arc sits with Bhatia, whose steady improvement keeps alive the prospect of a breakthrough result.