Bryson DeChambeau would be forgiven for still wondering just how he did not manage to win the 2021 BMW Championship after losing out in what became a six-hole playoff with Patrick Cantlay.
The BMW Championship returns to Caves Valley this year four years after the FedEx Cup playoff event was previously held in Maryland.
Keegan Bradley will certainly be hoping that happy memories bring the best out of Patrick Cantlay. Cantlay won the first of his two BMW Championship titles at Caves Valley in 2021.
But with Cantlay not one to willingly throw himself into the spotlight, it was hardly surprising that it was the man he beat in a lengthy playoff who attracted so many of the headlines that week.
How Harris English reacted when Bryson DeChambeau shot 60 at the BMW Championship in 2021
Both Cantlay and Bryson DeChambeau finished the tournament at 27 under par, with both players doing most of the damage in the second round.
Cantlay posted a 63, while DeChambeau came agonisingly close to shooting a 59. In fact, had he hit better putts on both 17 and 18, it could have even been a 58.
DeChambeau knocked his approach on the final green to around six feet. However, he seemingly pulled his putt and almost immediately got out of his stance.
Jordan Spieth compared DeChambeau’s driving with Tiger Woods after playing alongside him that day. And Harris English was blown away by what he did on the greens after the first two rounds of the event.
“Yeah, it was really cool. Jordan and I were talking about it yesterday; if he keeps driving it the way is he, he can shoot whatever he wants to shoot. I haven’t seen him drive it this well since I’ve played with him. I’ve played with him probably 10 or 12 times out here, and he’s driving it incredible,” he said.
“Obviously hitting — he hit eight iron into 16. He can bring it to its knees, and he did it today. The way he’s putting, I can see him going out the next two days and scaring 59 again.”
He added: “That’s what people don’t realise is how good a putter he really is. He’s got a system that he works on. I don’t really know exactly what it is, but he’s a great putter. You have to be a good putter out here. These greens are tricky to read. Even though the greens are soft, you’ve still got to make putts, and obviously he’s been doing that.”
How the top 10 looked the last time the BMW Championship was played at Caves Valley
DeChambeau was one of five players in the top 10 at the 2021 BMW Championship who subsequently joined LIV Golf.
Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia finished tied for sixth on 20 under par. Meanwhile, Jon Rahm and Abraham Ancer were two shots back and finished tied for ninth.
| Position | Player | Score |
| 1 | Patrick Cantlay | -27 |
| 2 | Bryson DeChambeau | -27 |
| 3 | Sungjae Im | -23 |
| 4 | Rory McIlroy | -22 |
| 5 | Erik van Rooyen | -21 |
| T6 | Dustin Johnson | -20 |
| T6 | Sergio Garcia | -20 |
| 8 | Sam Burns | -18 |
| T9 | Jon Rahm | -17 |
| T9 | Abraham Ancer | -17 |
| T9 | Alex Noren | -17 |
Funnily enough, a youngster by the name of Scottie Scheffler was tied for 22nd. Scheffler was still awaiting his first PGA Tour win at that stage, but was about to announce himself on the big stage at the Ryder Cup.
Of course, the man alongside him for two of those matches at Whistling Straits was DeChambeau.
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