ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – AUGUST 20: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the BMW Championship 2026 at Bellerive Country Club on August 20, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf playoffs are in full swing, with the BMW Championship commencing its first round alongside LIV’s individual and team championships. LIV Golf has notably canceled a planned event in Michigan, adding uncertainty to the tour’s future amid ongoing scrutiny.
In LIV’s team competition, the Majesticks GC lead the first round at 16 under par, holding a two-stroke advantage over Ripper GC. Their performance stems from Laurie Canter’s exceptional play, who post nine birdies and six pars over his final 15 holes after an uneven start. Canter reflected on his round, emphasizing aggressive strategy and smooth ball striking despite early bogeys.
The Majesticks, previously finishing last in LIV’s 2025 season, could secure $30 million in prize money with a championship win. Canter’s potential earnings of $4 million rest on strong subsequent rounds.
Turning to the PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler faced challenges at St. Louis, climbing from the bottom of the leaderboard to finish one under par on the back nine for a final score of 70. Rory McIlroy, who described his game as evolving, shares a first-round lead at 6 under par with Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun, and Chris Gotterup.
<
