2026 BMW Championship: Exact TV Times & How to Stream Live
The 2026 BMW Championship: Your Complete Beginner’s Guide
What Is the BMW Championship?
Think of the BMW Championship as Round 2 of the PGA Tour’s championship playoffs—officially called the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Only the top 50 players in the season-long points race get invited. This year, they’re teeing it up at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri.
Key Point: This isn’t just another tournament. It’s a do-or-die event where players fight to stay alive for the season finale.
Why This Year Is Extra Exciting
Scottie Scheffler Is on a Historic Run
- World #1 and FedEx Cup points leader
- Just won the first playoff event (FedEx St. Jude Championship) by 8 shots—a massive margin!
- If he wins again, he’ll be the first player since Patrick Cantlay (2021–2022) to win back-to-back BMW Championships.
What’s at Stake? (Money & Points)
| Prize | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Purse | $20 million |
| Winner’s Check | $3.6 million |
| FedEx Cup Points | 750 points for the winner |
| The Golden Ticket | Top 30 in standings after this week advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta |
ELI5 Explanation: FedEx Cup points are like "playoff points" in other sports. The more you have, the better your starting position at the final tournament. The Tour Championship uses a strokes-based system—the points leader starts at -10, second at -8, etc. So every point matters!
When & Where to Watch
Tournament Schedule (All Times Eastern)
| Day | Round | Start Time | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Round 1 | 10:00 AM | ESPN, ESPN App, Disney+ |
| Friday | Round 2 | 10:00 AM | ESPN, ESPN App |
| Saturday | Round 3 | 9:15 AM | ESPN App |
| Sunday | Final Round | 9:15 AM | ESPN App |
Streaming Options
- ESPN App — All four days, plus featured holes & groups
- ESPN Streaming Hub — Main feed coverage
- Disney+ — Thursday only (first round)
- ESPN (TV) — Thursday & Friday only
Note: Times are subject to change. The ESPN App is your best bet for complete coverage all weekend.
Top 15 Players in the FedEx Cup Standings (Entering This Week)
- Scottie Scheffler
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Cameron Young
- Si Woo Kim
- Wyndham Clark
- Sam Burns
- Chris Gotterup
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Collin Morikawa
- Ludvig Åberg
- Xander Schauffele
- Jacob Bridgeman
- Rory McIlroy
- Russell Henley
- Akshay Bhatia
Watch List: Scheffler is the clear favorite, but McIlroy (#13), Schauffele (#11), and Åberg (#10) are all major champions who can heat up fast.
The Course: Bellerive Country Club
- Location: St. Louis, Missouri
- History: Hosted the 2018 PGA Championship (won by Brooks Koepka) and 1992 PGA Championship (Nick Price)
- Style: Classic parkland layout—tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering, and demanding approach shots
- Par: 71 | Yardage: ~7,300 yards
How the Playoffs Work (In Simple Terms)
- Top 70 after regular season → FedEx St. Jude Championship (Memphis)
- Top 50 after Memphis → BMW Championship (St. Louis) ← WE ARE HERE
- Top 30 after St. Louis → Tour Championship (East Lake, Atlanta)
- Winner at East Lake = FedEx Cup Champion + $25 million bonus
Want More Golf?
Head to the ESPN Golf Hub for:
- Live scores & leaderboards
- Player stats & rankings
- News, analysis, & highlights
- Full schedules & tee times
Summary
- Event: 2026 BMW Championship (FedEx Cup Playoff #2)
- Field: Top 50 players only
- Site: Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis
- Dates: Thursday–Sunday (Aug 20–23, 2026)
- TV/Stream: ESPN App (all days), ESPN (Thu–Fri), Disney+ (Thu only)
- Big Story: Can Scottie Scheffler go back-to-back and make history?
- Cut Line: Top 30 advance to the Tour Championship in Atlanta
- Purse: $20M total, $3.6M to winner + 750 FedEx Cup points
FAQ
1. What happens if a player outside the top 30 wins this week?
They automatically jump into the top 30 and earn a spot at East Lake. A win is worth 750 points—a massive points haul that can vault someone up the standings.
2. Why does the Tour Championship use "starting strokes" instead of everyone starting at even par?
The FedEx Cup rewards season-long consistency. The points leader (currently Scheffler) starts at -10, second at -8, down to -2 for 26th–30th. It makes the regular season and first two playoff events matter hugely.
3. Can I watch for free?
You’ll need an ESPN+ subscription for the ESPN App stream, or a cable login for ESPN TV. Disney+ requires its own subscription. No free over-the-air broadcast this year.
4. Who won the last time the BMW was at Bellerive?
This is the first time the BMW Championship has been held at Bellerive. The course last hosted a major in 2018 (PGA Championship).
5. What’s the cut line for making the Tour Championship?
There’s no traditional 36-hole cut this week—all 50 players play all four rounds. The "cut" is the top 30 in FedEx Cup points after Sunday. Everyone else’s season ends.
Final Thought: The BMW Championship is where dreams of a $25M payday stay alive—or die. With Scheffler playing like a cheat code, the rest of the field has their work cut out. Grab your coffee, fire up the ESPN App, and enjoy playoff golf at its finest!