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Australian Marc Leishman (-23) is in a league of his own in
Chicago, as he wins the prestigious BMW Championship by 5 shots. - Lowest score ever at the BMW Championship.
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Jason Day hits a hole-in-one to win a BMW M760i, which he
donates to the Evans Scholars Foundation.
Chicago. The top 70 players on the PGA TOUR assembled for the
BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club (Chicago), to contest the
third Playoff event on the PGA TOUR. However, even in such a
world-class field, nobody could keep pace with 33-year-old Marc
Leishman, who produced a sensational performance to win the
tournament with a record score of 261 strokes. Another Australian,
Jason Day, also thrilled the spectators: the 2015 BMW Championship
winner aced the 17th hole on day two to win the Hole-in-One Prize, a
BMW M760i
(fuel consumption: 12.8 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 294 g/km)
, which he then donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation.
Leishman dominated the BMW Championship, which was being held to the
north of Chicago for the third time after 2013 and 2015, from day one.
He laid the foundation for his third title on the PGA TOUR with two
extraordinary rounds (62 and 64). The Australian hit no fewer than 18
birdies on the first 36 holes. He continued to play virtually flawless
golf over the course of the weekend, giving even his most dogged
rivals Justin Rose (ENG, -18, T2), Rickie Fowler (USA, -18, T2) und
Jason Day (AUS, -16, 4) no chance. This is Leishman’s first victory in
a Playoff event, and sees him climb from seventh to fourth place in
the FedExCup ranking.
“I feel awesome about this win,” said Leishman. “It’s just nice to
put four good rounds on the board in a really big event. Going wire to
wire, it’s first time I’ve done that on a PGA TOUR event. It makes me proud.”
Bernhard Kuhnt, President CEO BMW of North America, said:
“Congratulations to all of the players, staff and volunteers on
another great BMW Championship – and congratulations to Marc Leishman
on an impressive performance. Marc played with a lot of skill and
determination to secure this well-deserved victory.”
Leishman’s dominant display was reminiscent of 2015, when the BMW
Championship was also held at Conway Farms. Back then it was Jason Day
who dominated and led from start to finish. The former world number
one was in sparkling form again this year, and thrilled fans with the
shot of the tournament. He aced the 17th hole on his second
round to win the BMW Hole-in-One Prize, a BMW M760i. Day donated the
car to the Evans Scholars Foundation. The foundation, which receives
all the proceeds from the BMW Championship, funds college scholarships
for caddies. Since 2007, when BMW became title partner of the
tournament, more than 24 million US dollars have been raised.
Qualification for the season finale – the TOUR Championship, at which
only the top 30 pros in the FedExCup ranking are eligible to play –
was also at stake at the BMW Championship. Jordan Spieth (USA, -13,
T7), Justin Thomas (USA, -5, T47), and world number one Dustin Johnson
(USA, -8, T33) defended their top positions. Leishman and Jon Rahm
(ESP, -15, T5) round off the top five, each of whom can secure overall
FedExCup victory with a win in Atlanta, regardless of the results of
their rivals.
One thing is certain: there will be a new FedExCup champion again
this year. Last year’s winner, Rory McIlroy (NIR, -2), ended the BMW
Championship tied in 58th place, and thus misses out on qualification
for the season finale. No player has ever been able to defend his
title since the Playoff system was introduced in 2007.
Next year, the BMW Championship will be held at the Aronimink Golf
Club in Philadelphia for the first time, before returning to Chicago
and the Medinah Country Club in 2019.