The 2026 BMW Championship Round 1 tee times at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis feature a 50-player FedEx Cup Playoffs field, highlighted by marquee pairings like Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick, as competitors battle to secure a top-30 spot for the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake.
The Field Narrows to Fifty at Bellerive
Following last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, the PGA Tour postseason has been ruthlessly trimmed down. Only fifty players remain in contention as the tour moves to St. Louis for the 2026 BMW Championship. These players face a massive four-day test at Bellerive Country Club, with the ultimate objective of cracking the top thirty in the standings to advance to next week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler enters the week carrying immense momentum. Fresh off a dominant victory in Memphis on Sunday, Scheffler is back to defend his BMW title.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Grouping Leverage: Late-wave groupings, including the marquee pairing of Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele at 1:20 p.m.
Round 1 Tee Sheet and Notable Groupings
The opening round on Thursday sets up a blockbuster day of golf. Play kicks off early in the morning, with Justin Thomas and Sahith Theegala getting the action started at 10:03 a.m. ET on the first tee, according to the official tee sheet provided by Golfweek.
As the morning transitions into the afternoon wave, the pairings grow increasingly formidable. Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Åberg lock horns at 10:47 a.m. Later in the afternoon, fans will witness heavy-hitting groups that could dictate the early leaderboard.
| Time (ET) | Tee | Player 1 | Player 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:03 a.m. | 1 | Justin Thomas | Sahith Theegala |
| 10:47 a.m. | 1 | Collin Morikawa | Ludvig Åberg |
| 11:38 a.m. | 1 | Akshay Bhatia | Hideki Matsuyama |
| 1:20 p.m. | 1 | Rory McIlroy | Xander Schauffele |
| 2:22 p.m. | 1 | Chris Gotterup | Tommy Fleetwood |
| 2:33 p.m. | 1 | Scottie Scheffler | Matt Fitzpatrick |
According to Golf Channel, the drama at Bellerive Country Club will unfold over four days of intense competition as players navigate the Show-Me State layout. The pairing of Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele at 1:20 p.m. ET stands out as a premier grouping of major champions seeking to solidify their positioning before the weekend.
Broadcast and Streaming Access
For fans tuning in from home, coverage will span across traditional broadcast and digital platforms. Viewers can catch live action through ESPN+ via PGA Tour Live, alongside comprehensive television broadcasts on Golf Channel and streaming options via Fubo, ensuring full access to every pivotal shot of the opening round.
