Sahith Theegala in big trouble as Tony Finau, Russell Henley and others face brutal patriotic trial

The BMW Championship is more than just the second event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The professionals compete for the resounding $20 million in prize money and the chance to compete in East Lake and win the PGA Tour Championship title. However, it is also a last chance for golfers who are not in the top six of the Presidents Cup rankings to automatically qualify for the patriotic showdown.

The President's Cup is scheduled to take place from September 24th to 29th, so there is exactly one month left until the start. Nosferatu recently shared a post from X announcing the detailed stats about the upcoming tournament, focusing on the performances of the pros like Max Homa, Tony Finau, Brian Harman, and others.

Sahith Theegala finished 32nd after his second round, while Tony Finau was T29. Russell HenleySam Burns and Brian Harman were tied for T15 and have indirectly become a threat to Theegala's participation in the Presidents Cup. Theegala currently holds 4,544 points in the overall Presidents Cup standings, closely followed by Tony Finau with 4,039 points.

If Finau finishes third or better at the BMW Championship, he has a good chance of overtaking Theegala. Russell Henley also has a chance of automatic qualification with 3,902 points. In short, all golfers ranked 7th to 12th have a good chance of climbing to sixth place if they finish in the top three at the $20 million event.

However, there is also a reverse possibility. If Henley and others are unable to step in, they will lose their last chance to automatically qualify for the event and will have to rely on the captain's picks, which will be announced on September 3. The BMW Championship is crucial for Team USA as they will be fighting hard for victory at Royal Montreal. But what about their opponents, Team International?

What could the international team look like?

The criteria states that both teams' top six spots will be locked in at the conclusion of the second FedExCup playoff event. However, No. 8 Min Woo Lee and No. 11 Nick Taylor are not included, so their chances of moving up the rankings are nil. They will have to rely on being selected as captains to play against the American pros.

The winner of the 2024 St. Jude Championship. Hideki Matsuyama, who is currently leading the Presidents Cup standings for the international team, was forced to withdraw from the BMW Championship due to a back injury. If the Japanese professional's condition does not improve by the time of the tournament, he may have to forego the opportunity to participate in the Presidents Cup.

Then there is Jason Day, who is currently ranked 4th in the President Cup standings and automatically qualified unless someone replaces him, which is unlikely. The main event could be between Byeong Hun An and Corey Conners, who are ranked 6th and 7th in the President Cup standings. Both pros are currently playing in the BMW Championship and their performance in the tournament will impact their President Cup standings.

Who do you think will earn the final automatic spot to play for Team USA at the President's Cup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!