First-round leader tips for the BMW Championship
14 Aug
Golf
Jack Green
Back any player to win the BMW Championship and Betway will pay you out as a winner if they lead at the end of the first round.

JUSTIN THOMAS

To win 12/1

To lead after the first round 20/1

Thomas was T4 at the end of round one at last year’s BMW Championship and went on to finish T12.

The 26-year-old looks a good bet to start well again this time around as he ranks fourth in first-round scoring average on the PGA Tour this season.

Thomas is one of the most consistent first-round players on tour, having missed just two cuts in 21 starts over the past year.

While he hasn’t put together a low opening round in the past few weeks, he’s got a great record in the FedEx Cup, which he won in 2017, and looks well suited to Medinah.

WEBB SIMPSON

To win 22/1

To lead after the first round 28/1

Simpson is in fine form. He’s made 11 consecutive cuts and has finished second in three of his last six starts.

The American finished T18 at the Northern Trust last week after opening with a 65 that left him T5 after round one, and he’s now been inside the top seven at the end of the first day in three of his last four starts.

Few players are starting as consistently well as Simpson, and he ranks 12th in first-round scoring average on the PGA Tour this season.

He’s been T12 and T10 after the first round in the past two years at the BMW Championship, and should better those results this week given his form.

ABRAHAM ANCER

To win 66/1

To lead after the first round 50/1

Ancer went close to his first ever PGA Tour win last week as he finished second to Patrick Reed at the Northern Trust.

A victory might be beyond him this week, but the Mexican should carry some momentum through and make a good start.

He missed the cut in his two starts prior to the Northern Trust, but was joint-first at the end of round one at the Travelers Championship in June before going on to finish T8.

His scoring average on Thursdays is lower than in any other round, and he ranks inside the top 25 in first-round scoring average on the PGA Tour this year.

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