The BMW Championship returns this week at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland, with a $20 million purse on the line and a field built around the FedEx Cup standings. The event will feature 49 of the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup after Sepp Straka withdrew for personal reasons, leaving one gap in the field just a week after Rory McIlroy sat out the St. Jude Championship to rest.
Last year, Keegan Bradley claimed the BMW Championship title, and this week the PGA Tour’s current Ryder Cup captain returns to Baltimore amid the race toward the playoff finale. Bradley, who also won the Travelers Championship this year, headlines a strong lineup as the season marches toward its climactic weeks.
Justin Rose, who won the St. Jude Championship, is fresh off a big winner’s check and will look to carry that momentum into Owings Mills as the field battle for a share of the $20 million purse begins. The payout structure remains generous: the winner earns $3.6 million, with a steep drop-off through the leaderboard.
Purse and payouts at a glance
– Total purse: $20 million
– 1st: $3,600,000
– 2nd: $2,160,000
– 3rd: $1,360,000
– 4th: $990,000
– 5th: $830,000
– 6th: $750,000
– 7th: $695,000
– 8th: $640,000
– 9th: $600,000
– 10th: $560,000
– 11th: $520,000
– 12th: $480,000
– 13th: $441,000
– 14th: $402,000
– 15th: $382,000
– 16th: $362,000
– 17th: $342,000
– 18th: $322,000
– 19th: $302,000
– 20th: $282,000
– 21st: $262,000
– 22nd: $245,000
– 23rd: $229,000
– 24th: $213,000
– 25th: $197,000
– 26th: $181,000
– 27th: $174,000
– 28th: $167,000
– 29th: $160,000
– 30th: $153,000
– 31st: $146,000
– 32nd: $139,000
– 33rd: $132,000
– 34th: $127,000
– 35th: $122,000
– 36th: $117,000
– 37th: $112,000
– 38th: $108,000
– 39th: $104,000
– 40th: $100,000
– 41st: $96,000
– 42nd: $92,000
– 43rd: $88,000
– 44th: $84,000
– 45th: $80,000
– 46th: $76,000
– 47th: $72,000
– 48th: $70,000
– 49th: $68,000
– 50th: $66,000
Notable field dynamics
– With Straka’s withdrawal, the field will be composed of 49 of the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings, intensifying the competition as players push for playoff positioning and Ryder Cup implications.
– The absence of McIlroy from St. Jude and Straka’s decision to sit out this week are reminders that the playoff grind can redefine who arrives at peak form for the BMW Championship.
– The 2025 BMW Championship attracts a mix of recent big-name winners and established FedEx Cup stars, including players who have already claimed seven-figure paydays earlier in the season.
What to watch
– Rose’s form: Coming off a St. Jude triumph, Rose will look to translate that momentum into a challenging course setup at Caves Valley.
– Ryder Cup angle: With Bradley serving as U.S. captain, his performance this week could shape the final picks and momentum heading into the team event.
– Payout incentives: The generous prize distribution means even players outside the top 10 have meaningful earnings potential, keeping the field competitive through Sunday.
Summary
The 2025 BMW Championship brings a $20 million purse to Caves Valley with 49 of the top FedEx Cup contenders in the field after Sepp Straka’s withdrawal. Following Justin Rose’s St. Jude win, the event offers a high-stakes chase for playoff momentum, Ryder Cup implications, and substantial payouts from a winner’s $3.6 million down to $66,000 for the final-placing competitor.
Additional notes
– The field dynamic underscores the depth of talent in the PGA Tour’s playoff race, where even marginal changes in availability can shift the competitive balance.
– If you’re following the FedEx Cup standings, this week is a pivotal checkpoint on the path to the Tour Championship and the overall season’s payoff.