Gary Woodland entered the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club sitting No. 31 in the FedExCup standings, just outside the top-30 positions that advanced to the Tour Championship at East Lake. The former U.S. Open champion had reached the BMW Championship for the first time in six years with an opportunity to move into the season finale.
Woodland has made significant progress throughout the 2026 season. After winning the Texas Children’s Houston Open earlier this year, he arrived at Bellerive with his Tour Championship hopes still in play. His strong start has now put him in a favorable position heading into the weekend.
Through two rounds, Woodland has followed his opening 64 with a 65. He is solo second at 11 under, one shot behind Wyndham Clark, and is projected to move comfortably inside the top 30 in the FedExCup standings.
Gary Woodland Opens Up on His Focus Amid BMW Championship Surge
Despite his position, Gary Woodland said he cannot afford to start thinking about East Lake. Instead, he is concentrating on getting through each day and taking care of himself.
“My focus right now is one day at a time. I don’t have that luxury to look ahead,” Woodland said after his second round.
He added, “I got to focus and make sure I take care of myself right now. Tomorrow’s a new day and hopefully I get some rest tonight and I’ll show up tomorrow and see how it comes.”
Woodland has spent much of the season around the FedExCup cutoff, making the pressure of staying inside the top 30 familiar.
His comments also come in the context of his recovery from brain surgery in September 2023 and the post-traumatic stress disorder he has discussed publicly this year.
However, Woodland did not directly say that his comments about staying in the present were specifically about his PTSD recovery.
His focus was on managing the current day rather than looking ahead to what qualifying for East Lake could mean.
That approach has become particularly important as he manages his energy and heart rate during competition.
After Friday’s round, Woodland said he was tired and followed his usual routine of sitting in a cool, dark room to reset.
Gary Woodland’s BMW Surge Puts Tour Championship Within Reach
Woodland’s position has changed considerably since arriving at Bellerive. He began the week No. 31 in the FedExCup standings but has moved into the projected Tour Championship position after two impressive rounds.
He opened with a 64 and followed it with a 65, leaving him at 11 under and one shot behind Clark.
Woodland also birdied his final two holes Friday, including a wedge to 8 feet on the 18th.
The performance gives Woodland a clear opportunity to return to the Tour Championship for the first time since 2019.
That would mark another major step in a season that has already included his first PGA Tour victory since the 2019 U.S. Open.
Woodland also has strong memories of Bellerive. He led the 2018 PGA Championship after 18 and 36 holes before finishing tied for sixth.
The course is also relatively close to his Kansas home, giving him significant support from family, friends and fans.
Still, Woodland knows his position is not final until the BMW Championship is complete. Only the top 30 in the FedExCup standings advance to East Lake.
For now, he is focusing on one day at a time and will evaluate his standing once the tournament finishes.
Gary Woodland Reveals Why He Cannot Look Ahead Despite BMW Surge