Secret Awards Battle Brewing at BMW Championship
The Fitzpatrick Brothers Are Taking Over Golf: A Simple Guide to the 2026 Award Races
Quick Article Info
- Written by: Paul Hodowanic
- Published: 17 hours ago
- Read time: 4 minutes
- Series: Signature Scroll newsletter
Meet the Fitzpatrick Brothers
Imagine two brothers who both play professional golf at the highest level. That’s exactly what’s happening with Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick!
Important Point: This is the first time in PGA TOUR history that brothers have both reached this level of success in the same season!
How They’re Different
| Matt Fitzpatrick (Big Brother) | Alex Fitzpatrick (Little Brother) |
|---|---|
| Analytical and meticulous (likes numbers and data) | Plays by feel and instinct |
| Already one of the top 5 players on TOUR | Went from unknown to TOUR winner in 5 months |
| Competing for Player of the Year | Competing for Rookie of the Year |
The Two Big Award Races
1. Player of the Year: Scottie Scheffler Has Basically Won
- Scottie Scheffler won last week by 8 shots (that’s a LOT in golf!)
- Even Rory McIlroy (another superstar) said: "No chance. Scottie is [Player of the Year]."
- Matt Fitzpatrick agrees: "A certain someone sewed it up last week."
2. Rookie of the Year: Three-Way Battle!
This race is wide open with three strong candidates:
| Player | Best Win | Special Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Fitzpatrick | Zurich Classic (with brother Matt) | Consistency – Top 10 in ALL 4 Signature Events played |
| Kristoffer Reitan | Truist Championship (Signature Event) | Biggest single win |
| Jackson Koivun | 3M Open (beat Scheffler!) | Most buzz – Fresh out of college |
Key Insight: Alex’s case isn’t just about winning. He joined mid-season and immediately competed with the best players in the biggest tournaments.
What Happens Next? The TOUR Championship Decides Everything
Both Reitan and Fitzpatrick made the TOUR Championship (top 30 players only):
- Reitan: 19th in FedExCup standings
- Fitzpatrick: 20th in FedExCup standings
The final tournament will likely decide Rookie of the Year! Whoever performs better at the TOUR Championship gets the edge.
Other Cool Stuff Happening This Week
Players Fighting to Make the Top 30 (TOUR Championship)
The field gets cut from 50 to 30 after this week’s BMW Championship. Here’s what some big names minimally need:
| Player | Minimum Finish Needed |
|---|---|
| Rickie Fowler | Solo 50th |
| Gary Woodland | Solo 48th |
| Robert MacIntyre | 3-way tie for 15th |
| Patrick Cantlay | Solo 7th |
| Justin Thomas | Solo 7th |
| Sahith Theegala | 3-way tie for 2nd |
Fun Facts & News Bites
- Si Woo Kim has 11 top-10s this year = same as previous 3 years COMBINED
- Rory McIlroy might skip some winter tournaments to fix his swing (did this in 2024, worked great!)
- Gary Woodland named U.S. Presidents Cup captain’s assistant
- Viktor Hovland reunited with coach Joe Mayo (best year of his career was with Mayo)
- Tom Kim has 96.6% chance to make TOUR Championship (per Data Golf)
- Range balls hit Wednesday: Hovland (176), McIlroy (172 Tuesday), MacIntyre (164 Monday)
ELI5: Golf Terms You Might Not Know
| Term | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|
| Signature Event | Big tournament with more money, points, and only top players invited |
| FedExCup | Season-long points race; top 30 make the final tournament |
| TOUR Championship | The final tournament where the FedExCup winner is crowned |
| Rookie | A player in their first full season on TOUR |
| Major Championship | The 4 biggest tournaments: Masters, PGA, U.S. Open, British Open |
| Presidents Cup | Team event: USA vs. International team (every 2 years) |
Summary
- The Fitzpatrick brothers are making history – both elite pros with different styles
- Player of the Year is basically decided: Scottie Scheffler
- Rookie of the Year is a 3-man race: Alex Fitzpatrick vs. Kristoffer Reitan vs. Jackson Koivun
- Alex Fitzpatrick’s secret weapon: Insane consistency in big events (4 for 4 top-10s!)
- Next week’s TOUR Championship will likely crown the Rookie of the Year
- This week’s BMW Championship decides who makes the top 30 – several big names are on the bubble
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: Why is Alex Fitzpatrick considered a rookie if he won a tournament?
A: "Rookie" means it’s your first full season on TOUR. Alex joined mid-season, so this counts as his rookie year even though he already won!
Q: What’s a "Signature Event" and why does it matter?
A: Think of it like "premium" tournaments – bigger prize money, more FedExCup points, and only the best players get invited. Doing well in these proves you belong with the elite.
Q: Can Jackson Koivun still win Rookie of the Year if his season is over?
A: Technically yes, but it’s very unlikely. The other two are playing in the TOUR Championship (biggest stage), so they have a chance to add more points. Koivun can’t earn any more points.
Q: Why does making the TOUR Championship matter for major exemptions?
A: Finishing in the top 30 gives you automatic entry into next year’s majors (Masters, U.S. Open, etc.). Players like Adam Scott are fighting to keep their streak of playing every major alive!
Q: How do the FedExCup standings work?
A: Players earn points all season based on how they finish. Top 50 make the BMW Championship (this week). Top 30 after this week make the TOUR Championship (final week). Most points at the end = FedExCup champion + huge bonus money.
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