Playoffs heartbreak for Scott in $5m miss

Adam Scott headed to Colorado with the primary goal of surging up the FedEx Cup rankings and securing his spot in the season-ending Tour Championship. He accomplished this objective, yet the 44-year-old golfer couldn’t help but feel disappointed after two lackluster weekend rounds at the BMW Championship. These rounds cost him the chance to break a four-year winless streak and add nearly $5.3 million to his already substantial career earnings.

Scott narrowly missed out on victory, finishing just one shot behind U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who claimed a memorable win. Despite the near miss, Scott will be the sole Australian in the 30-man field for the final tournament of the season in Atlanta.

Meanwhile, Cam Davis made a valiant effort, shooting a closing round of six-under 66 to jump into a tie for fifth place. This surge lifted him 13 spots in the FedEx Cup rankings, but it wasn’t enough to secure a place in the top 30, as he finished 36th overall.

Jason Day, who started the playoffs in a strong position after the St Jude Championship in Memphis, saw his form dip following his trip to Paris for the Olympics. He finished tied for 22nd at Castle Pines Golf Club and then tied for 33rd, ultimately placing 33rd overall and missing out on a final payday.

Despite their individual outcomes, all three Australian golfers are expected to be included in the International team for the upcoming Presidents Cup. Scott and Day are likely automatic selections, while Davis, along with fellow countryman Min Woo Lee, could be chosen as captain’s picks.

Scott’s performance at the BMW Championship was a tale of highs and lows. After setting a course record with an eight-under 63 on Friday, he entered the weekend as the leader. However, a “rollercoaster” third round, as he described it, derailed his momentum. An eagle to start his final round briefly put him back on top of the leaderboard alongside Bradley, but four bogeys on the back nine left him unable to close the two-shot gap, ultimately finishing just one shot behind.

Despite the disappointment of not winning, Scott found solace in reaching the Tour Championship, an achievement that seemed unlikely just a few weeks prior. “I’m disappointed not to have won today, but I’m pretty happy to be going to East Lake because that wasn’t on the cards a couple weeks ago. I’ve played well,” Scott reflected.

Looking ahead to the final event, Scott expressed a sense of pride in earning his place among the world’s best players. His performance also secured his spot in eight “signature” events in 2025, with a combined prize pool of $240 million.

“You kind of grind all year, and then finally the last four events my game has really turned around and looked solid,” Scott said. “A lot can happen in a few weeks out here, and all of a sudden I’ve gone from a very frustrating year to now feeling pretty pleased with myself. But it’ll be fun to go and run the tables next week.”

Scott now turns his focus to the Tour Championship, where he hopes to build on his recent form and finish the season on a high note.