BMW Championship 2024: 3 Instant Reactions to Thursday Leaderboard Scores

Keegan Bradley provided the first shakeup to the FedEx Cup standings at the BMW Championship on Thursday.

The veteran golfer turned in a six-under 66 to take the solo 18-hole lead at Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado.

Bradley jumped 46 spots in the projected standings through one round of play. The top 30 golfers in the FedEx Cup standings advance to next week's Tour Championship.

Last week's winner, Hideki Matsuyama, produced the second-best score of the day and sits one shot back of Bradley going into Friday.

Plenty of movement will happen over the next three days, but Bradley and a few others at least put themselves in good spots to remain in the top 30 before the end of the tournament.

Full leaderboard available at PGATour.com.

Keegan Bradley Makes Big Move with Strong First Round

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BLAINE, MINNESOTA - JULY 26: Keegan Bradley of the United States plays his shot from the 10th tee during the second round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 26, 2024 in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Keegan Bradley elevated himself from 50th to fourth in the projected FedEx Cup standings with the best round on Thursday.

Bradley rolled in three birdies on each nine and produced 12 pars on his way to the solo 18-hole lead.

Bradley needed a strong start because he entered the BMW Championship because he entered the week in 50th place in the FedEx Cup standings.

The top 30 players move on to the Tour Championship and placing matters within the top 30 because there is a staggered start next week in which the first-place golfer in the FedEx Cup starts at 10-under.

A win would keep Bradley around the top five, depending on how others around him play this week, but he at least built a strong foundation on Thursday to take home a high finish and a spot in the top 30.

Hideki Matsuyama Carries over Momentum from Last Week's Win

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CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO - AUGUST 22: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan plays a shot from a bunker on the first hole during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Hideki Matsuyama's been in the best form through five rounds of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Matsuyama followed up his victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship with a five-under 67 to begin the BMW Championship.

Matsuyama's strong form dates back a few weeks to the Summer Olympics, where he took the bronze medal behind Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood.

The win last week in Memphis assured Matsuyama he would make it to the Tour Championship, but he needs another high finish to compete with Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, who are far ahead in first and second place in the FedEx Cup standings.

Matsuyama finished the first round one shot better than Schauffele and three strokes ahead of Scheffler.

That's who he should have his eyes on for the rest of the weekend as he tries to close the gap at the top going into next week.

Adam Scott, Corey Conners Among Other Big Movers

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CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO - AUGUST 22: Adam Scott of Australia plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the BMW Championship at Castle Pines Golf Club on August 22, 2024 in Castle Rock, Colorado. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Thursday was a big day for a handful of players who started outside the top 30.

Adam Scott, Alex Noren and Corey Conners are all now inside the projected top 30 after strong rounds at Castle Pines.

Scott and Noren each shot four-under 68s to vault from outside the top 40 and into the top 25.

Conners used a three-under 67 to move up 13 spots in the projected standings from 33rd.

Of course, three more rounds of golf need to be played for each golfer to confirm their spots in the top 30s, but like Bradley, they laid a good foundation for the rest of the week, and also put some pressure on Denny McCarthy, Tom Hoge and Brian Harman, who started the week closest to the top 30 bubble.