Racing Post's BMW Championship predictions & free golf betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the BMW Championship at Wilmington Country Club in the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm Thursday

Best bets

Jon Rahm
3pts each-way 14-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
Sungjae Im
2pts each-way 25-1 Betfair, Betfred, Paddy Power
Cameron Young
1pt each-way 25-1 general
Corey Conners
1pt each-way 55-1bet365

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The Tour Championship and the chance to play for an $18m first prize is just a week away, but this is not the time for anyone in the FedEx Cup playoffs to be taking it easy at the BMW Championship.

A total of 68 players tee up at the unfamiliar surroundings of the Wilmington Country Club, knowing that only the top 30 will make it through to next week's big showdown at East Lake.

And even if they are comfortably inside that line, there will be a handicap system involved next week, so the equation is simple - the better you play in Delaware, the better chance you will have of landing a bumper payday.

Ian Wilkerson's top tip

Jon Rahm 14-1

This is the first time that Wilmington Country Club has hosted a professional event, but as a Robert Trent Jones-designed course, which required a great deal of renovation following a tornado a couple of years ago, it should pay to look at players prone to finding the right areas off the tee.

It looks set to be a strong all-round test and one player who should approach the task with some fire in his belly is former world number one Jon Rahm.

It cannot be considered a stellar year for the Spaniard on the course whose only victory has come at the low-grade Mexican Open.

But the quality of his ball-striking has perhaps not been rewarded with results and he has all the right ingredients to make a strong push for glory on Sunday as the top-ranked player in strokes-gained off-the-tee as well as being fourth both from tee-to-green and in greens in regulation (GIR).

The motivation should be there too as he finds himself 14th in the FedEx rankings, so now is the time to get himself into a great position, just as Will Zalatoris did last week when he moved to the top from 12th after victory at the FedEx St Jude Invitational.

Rahm's fifth spot at TPC Southwind was his best result for a while and 'nappy factor' devotees may point to the recent birth of his second son as a cause for inspiration.

However, it would be easier to conclude that the ingredients have always been there and Rahm just seems to be peaking at the right time.

Next best bet

Sungjae Im 25-1

Another player who has been quietly going about his business is South Korea's Sungjae Im, who heads to Wilmington in excellent nick.

The 25-year-old finished runner-up at both the 3M Open and the Wyndham Championship before a creditable 12th last week, when, after getting off to a sticky start at Southwind, he burst back with a Saturday 63.

Im is a consistent performer who is ranked ninth tee-to-green, off-the-tee and in GIR and he is also just outside the top ten so the motivation will be there to put in a big show to ensure a decent mark for next week.

Other selections

Cameron Young 25-1

Corey Conners 55-1

Cameron Young is in line to be the PGA Tour rookie of the year and now that Zalatoris has broken his duck, many will view him as the next potential maiden winner.

The signs are that they may not have to wait long and it was particularly encouraging to see the 25-year-old from New York state finish second at the Rocket Mortgage Classic just two weeks after pushing Cameron Smith so hard at the Open Championship.

Young was 31st last week, but that did not really tell the whole story as there were signs of life with an opening 67 and a closing 66 at Southwind.

It could just be a case of knitting it all together for a player who is ranked second off-the-tee and 13th from tee-to-green.

The battle for FedEx points is not the only competition going on this week as there is also the secondary consideration of Presidents Cup places up for grabs.

The United States meet an International team at Quail Hollow next month and the top eight in the rankings after this week's tournament will be included.

Canada's Corey Conners is sixth in the list for Trevor Immelman's Internationals and he also has the motivation of being right on the button in 30th in the FedEx list.

The quality of his all-round game - 14th tee-to-green, fourth off-the-tee, third in GIR - points to a strong show, even though his sixth spot in his home open is the only top-ten he has posted since the Masters in April.

A second-round 71 put paid to his chances last week but his other three rounds were solid as he finished 28th, so he could put himself in the picture.

Players to note

Justin Thomas
Has played at the venue before in the 2013 Palmer Cup during his college days, which is rare in this field. Closed with a 66 for 13th on Sunday so could build on that.

Tony Finau
Two successive wins have seen him rid himself of the bridesmaid's tag and he followed those victories with fifth at Southwind last week, so he remains in great form.

Collin Morikawa
His fifth spot last week was a boost after a disappointing defence of his Open championship and he has the ball-striking ability to be a factor again this week.

Wilmington Country Club course guide

Course Wilmington Country Club (South course), Wilmington, Delaware
Prize money $15m ($2.7m to winner)
Length 7,534 yards
Par 71 - four par-threes, 11 par-fours, three par-fives
Field 69
Highest ranked players in the field (world rankings in brackets - Scottie Scheffler (1), Cameron Smith (2), Rory McIlroy (3), Patrick Cantlay (4), Jon Rahm (5), Xander Schauffele (6)

Tournament format The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings have qualified to play this week and the top 30 here will head to next week's Tour Championship. There will be no cut this week. The tournament will also be the final opportunity for USA and International players to qualify automatically for their respective Presidents Cup teams who will face off at Quail Hollow next month.

When to bet By 2.15pm Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm

Time difference Delaware is five hours behind the UK & Ireland

Last week - FedEx St Jude Championship 1 W Zalatoris 25-1 2 S Straka 500-1, T3 L Glover 250-1, B Harman 125-1, T5 A Scott 100-1, J Rahm 20-1, C Morikawa 33-1, T Finau 22-1, M Fitzpatrick 22-1, A Putnam 250-1, T Mullinax 250-1.

Course overview This is the first time Wilmington Country Club has been used for a PGA Tour event, having hosted amateur championships, including the 2013 collegiate Palmer Cup, when Justin Thomas was a member of the victorious United States team.

It was designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1959 but the holes have been shuffled around from what members would usually play. A great deal of renovation work took place after a tornado in 2020 felled 300 trees and significantly damaged bunkers and sand traps now guard many of the potential landing areas. The fairways and greens are both Bentgrass.

Players face a tough finish with a par-three 15th which can play as long as 234 yards and is guarded by plenty of water. the par-four 16th could be driveable if organisers decide to bring the tee forward.

Story of last year Patrick Cantlay got the better of Bryson DeChambeau at the sixth hole of their mammoth playoff at Caves Valley in Maryland

Weather forecast Bright skies and warm temperatures are expected to greet the players for the first two days, but rain is anticipated to be a feature over the weekend.

Type of player suited to the challenge This is a pretty long test but accurate driving could prove more of a benefit than sheer power as finding the necessary landing areas is likely to be key. While decent distance off the tee should not do any harm, this unfamiliar test should be relished by solid tee-to-green performers

Key attribute Accuracy

Spotlight insight Three of the last four BMW Championships have gone to a playoff

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