2022 BMW Championship leaderboard: Patrick Cantlay climbs to the singles lead after round three in Wilmington

Players described Wilmington Country Club in the same vein as Caves Valley, the venue for last year’s BMW Championship, so it should come as no surprise that Patrick Cantlay found himself at the top of the leaderboard after 54 holes of play. The defending champion may not put the ball down like he did a year ago in Baltimore, but he’s cruising around the golf course in an equally effective way.

FedEx Cup champion stands alone at 12 under and with a one-two punch over his best friend and competitor in the first three days, Xander Shaveli, as well as Scott Stallings. The duel between the two men who have shared Presidents’ Cups, Ryder’s Cups, the classic Zurich nickname and even the holidays with their significant other feels like the only ingredient missing from their friendship.

Similar in demeanor and similar from a statistical perspective, the two flat-headed Americans will enter the final round as the top two names on both the leaderboard and odds board at Caesars Sportsbook.

However, it hasn’t been that long since we saw this duo together on one last tour. We just need to go back to the Travelers’ Tournament in which Shoffeli triumphed while Cantlay was horrific. A 6-over-76 victim, Cantlay pulled himself out of the fray early on Sunday and stole golf fans from a home and away game between the two.

This time is different in nature as the stakes are higher and Schauffele will act as the stalker. Cantlay would start the final round with a slight edge and make his first 54-hole lead in about a year — the last event to come in last season’s championship. It was in this particular tournament that Cantlay began his FedEx Cup career as he defeated Bryson Dechambeau in dramatic fashion, and now he hopes to dismantle Shaveli & Co. en route to a similar round.

Leader

1 – Patrick Cantlay (-12)

Wins haven’t come like in 2021, but Cantlay is playing better than he was a season ago. Without a solo win this season, the world number four has been close on numerous occasions, having lost in the playoffs to Scotty Scheffler at the WM Phoenix Open and Jordan Spieth at RBC Heritage.

Add another result as a runner-up in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, and in total, Cantlay has made the top 10 in half his starts this season. Consistency often doesn’t pay off on the PGA Tour in the short term. In the long run, it’s a different story and there’s a real chance now that it will pay off for Cantlay in a big way.

Expected to move up the FedEx Cup standings with a win at Wilmington CC, Canlay could become the first man to not only successfully defend the post-season event but also successfully defend the FedEx Cup title. If he was able to accomplish this task, Cantlay would raise more than $20 million in a two-week period.

“I think maybe in the bigger tournaments it’s kind of easier to narrow your focus, and I’ve done a good job of staying in the moment and trying to get into the right state of mind and good behavior,” Cantlay said. “I love this golf course. I love the grass it is played on. I love the curved grass, and this golf course is in really immaculate condition. It was better before they burned the greens.”

The other competitors

T2. Xander Shaveli and Scott Stallings (-11)

T4. Adam Scott and Scotty Scheffler (-10)

T6. Colin Morikawa and Aaron Wise (-9)

T8. Joaquin Neiman and Corey Connors (-8)

Players who are four strokes away from the lead should still think they have a chance to lift the BMW Championship trophy. While Cantlay would be hard to get past, the stalkers boast a reliable resume. Shaveli and Schaeffler touched the lead at various points throughout this tournament, but it was Morikawa who made the biggest move on Saturday.

After a terrible performance on the Greens in the second round, the two-time main champ was able to spot something in his two stroke and push himself back into the competition. With the signing of 6 Under-65 players, Morikawa, the only player among the top 10 players in the world golf rankings to remain winless in the 2021-22 season, will be looking for his first win in over a year. Despite this, he has risen to the occasion in the major tournaments and in the big moments, and has spoken about what would be required to achieve his first title since the 2021 Open.

“I think be patient,” Morikawa said of his match. “I think how dry and volatile these greens are, take advantage when you’re in the right lane and have a good angle and a good number. But just be patient.” Plan for the final round. “Obviously a lot of good runs that I think got off to a good start here at the beginning of the round, which is key. But if it doesn’t, it doesn’t mean you can’t make sparrows when you say 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. It’s been a long time since then – I’m hoping to be a little bit off the lead tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited.”

Rick Gehmann and Mark Immelman discuss Saturday’s events at the BMW Championship. Go ahead and listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcast And the spotify.

What does WD Zalatoris mean for the post-season finale

The St. Jude Championship winner entered the BMW Championship by narrowly leading the FedEx Cup standings. the need to Withdrawal mid-round on Saturday Due to a back injury, Zalatoris’ departure makes way for another player to start the Tour Championship at the top of the standings. This start has proven crucial in the past years as the captain started the Tour Championship at the age of ten under. FedEx Cup No. 2 will start at 8 below, then Zalatoris – which is currently expected to drop to No. 3 in the standings – will start the week at 7 below.

Effects of the Tour Championship

Eyes will be drawn to the top of the leaderboard, but those hovering around the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings will be of particular interest, too. With each shot that makes a lot of sense, those in the bubble will be vying for a place on the field in next week’s Tour Championship as big paychecks and major tournament exemptions await.

“I just went out trying to win a golf course,” said Denny McCarthy who is currently a T10 under seven. “I’ve been close for a while. I think mentality has worked well for me. I know I need to get a good ending. But winning is a very good ending too.”

2022 BMW Championship Update Odds, Choices

• Patrick Cantlay: 23/10
• Xander Shaveli: 33/10
• Scotty Scheffler: 9/2
• Scott Stallings: 2/15
• Adam Scott: 10-1
• Colin Morikawa: 14-1
• Aaron Wise: 20-1
• Rory McIlroy: 35-1
• Joaquin Niemann: 35-1
• Corey Conners: 40-1

Fairways will be decisive on Sunday, and among those mentioned above, Morikawa and Conners lead the way in terms of driving accuracy. Morikawa finally managed to show something with the racket on Saturday and is just three strokes away from Kantelay’s lead. While Cantlay is my choice to win the BMW Championship, I wouldn’t be shocked if Morikawa was able to spread the club’s lead and give him something to think about for the long term.