Robert MacIntyre moved five clear at the halfway stage of the BMW Championship as the FedExCup Playoffs delivered a high-stakes chase into the weekend in Maryland. Following a rain-interrupted opening round that saw him card a 62, the Scot added a six-birdie, bogey-free 64 to reach 14 under, stretching his lead over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to five. Scheffler shot 65 to sit at nine under, keeping pace but still well behind MacIntyre, who again displayed the steadiness that has carried him to the top of the leaderboard.
MacIntyre’s round featured three birdies on each nine, with his confidence backed by a hot putter, a point he underscored after the round: when he’s comfortable with the putter, he can be dangerous by attacking tough uphill putts and getting the ball under the hole. Ludvig Åberg and Hideki Matsuyama each shot eight under for the day, matching MacIntyre’s best score to climb into joint third and fourth respectively.
Meanwhile, England’s Tommy Fleetwood dropped back with a 69, slipping to six under as he navigated a late stretch of bogeys. He sits alongside fellow Americans Michael Kim and Maverick McNealy in a share of fifth. Harry Hall sits one off that group in a tie for eighth, with Viktor Hovland and Sam Burns close behind.
On the approach to the Tour Championship, Rory McIlroy finished four under for his round, after a shaky start that included a double-bogey at the par-three third but was steadied by a run of three straight birdies around the turn and a late eagle at the 16th. McIlroy, who skipped last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, remains in position to secure his place in the final event of the season, continuing to focus on sharpening his game for the coming showcase at East Lake.
The FedExCup Playoffs structure remains in place with three events offering 2,000 points to the winner, and no 36-hole cut at BMW or St. Jude. The field is narrowed to the top 70 after the St. Jude Championship, then the top 50 advance to the BMW, before the top 30 qualify for the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta (August 21-24). All three events are covered in depth on Sky Sports.
Away from the BMW Championship, the Danish Golf Championship in Copenhagen produced another compelling storyline as Rasmus Højgaard opened up a two-shot lead at halfway. The 24-year-old Dane fired a seven-under 64 on his back nine after starting on the 10th, turning six straight pars into a burst of birdies and an eagle on the final hole to move to eight under overall. Højgaard, who is currently eighth on Europe’s Ryder Cup points list, again highlighted the home crowd’s energy as a key motivational factor in his bid for a captain’s pick after Luke Donald’s selections later this month.
Two-time British Masters champion Marco Penge sits two behind in 10-under after a 68 that included six birdies and three bogeys, while Canadian Aaron Cockerill is three adrift in third at 7-under. The Danish event remains a critical part of Højgaard’s Ryder Cup push, as Europe weighs captain picks and the points race heats up ahead of the year’s closing matches.
What to watch next
– The BMW Championship action continues, with MacIntyre aiming to extend the margin as the field tightens behind him. The key storyline is whether Scheffler—or others such as Åberg and Matsuyama—can mount a late surge.
– McIlroy’s continued improvement and his approach to the Tour Championship will be watched closely, as he looks to build form after a mixed day two and to maximize his chances of contending in Atlanta.
– In Europe, Højgaard’s Danish Championship momentum could bolster his Ryder Cup case, especially given his strong support at home and the ongoing points race for captain’s picks.
Summary and outlook
MacIntyre has grabbed a commanding position at the BMW Championship, with his putter and patience behind a bogey-free second round that stabilized his position atop the field. The weekend promises a dramatic finish as the playoff format intensifies every shot, and the broader Ryder Cup race adds extra motivation for players like Højgaard, who is proving his mettle on both the national and European stages. There’s a clear sense of momentum for both the current leaders and those chasing them, and the coming rounds should offer ample drama and potential for uplifting finishes. If the positive trend continues, fans can look forward to a compelling conclusion to the FedExCup Playoffs and a meaningful push for Europe in the Ryder Cup picture.