Key Takeaways
- Bellerive Country Club is set up at par 70 and 7,448 yards for the BMW Championship 2026, played 20 to 23 August 2026.
- That setup is 132 yards longer than the 7,316 yards Bellerive played for the 2018 PGA Championship, and three holes carry 67 of those 132 yards.
- The BMW Championship is the last event of the 2026 season to award FedExCup points, so a bonus pool of nearly $100 million is distributed to the top 125 in the standings the moment it ends.
- Winning the BMW Championship does not win the FedExCup. The FedExCup champion is whoever wins the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on 27 to 30 August 2026.
The BMW Championship 2026 Bellerive setup measures 7,448 yards at par 70, exactly 132 yards more than the 7,316 the same course played for the 2018 PGA Championship. We put the two published scorecards side by side. Three holes hold 67 of those yards. The other fifteen split the rest.
Both cards are public. The PGA TOUR published the 2026 hole-by-hole yardages in its venue preview on 17 August 2026, and the PGA of America's 2018 championship card is a matter of record. Subtract one from the other and you get a picture nobody else has printed: the lengthening is lopsided, and it lands hardest on the shortest holes.
"If you assumed a '132 yards longer' course meant longer drives, the scorecard says otherwise: this is a longer-iron test, not a driving contest."
Where Did the 132 Extra Yards Actually Go?
The 17th at Bellerive Country Club gained 27 yards, the 3rd gained 22 and the 5th gained 18. That is 67 yards across three holes, or 50.8% of the total change between the 2018 PGA Championship setup and the BMW Championship 2026 setup. Fourteen holes are longer, two are marginally shorter, and the 15th and 16th are untouched.
The 3rd is the one worth staring at. It went from 148 yards to 170, a 14.9% increase and the largest proportional change on the property. Across all four par 3s, the average length rose from 194.5 yards to 202.25. If you assumed a "132 yards longer" course meant longer drives, the card says otherwise: this is mostly a longer-iron golf course now, not a bigger driving one.
| Hole (Par) | 2018 Yards | 2026 Yards | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (4) | 425 | 424 | -1 yd |
| 2 (4) | 410 | 427 | +17 yds |
| 3 (3) | 148 | 170 | +22 yds |
| 4 (4) | 521 | 514 | -7 yds |
| 5 (4) | 471 | 489 | +18 yds |
| 6 (3) | 213 | 215 | +2 yds |
| 7 (4) | 394 | 397 | +3 yds |
| 8 (5) | 610 | 613 | +3 yds |
| 9 (4) | 433 | 438 | +5 yds |
| Out (35) | 3,625 | 3,687 | +62 yds |
| 10 (4) | 508 | 510 | +2 yds |
| 11 (4) | 355 | 361 | +6 yds |
| 12 (4) | 452 | 468 | +16 yds |
| 13 (3) | 180 | 187 | +7 yds |
| 14 (4) | 410 | 417 | +7 yds |
| 15 (4) | 495 | 495 | 0 yds |
| 16 (3) | 237 | 237 | 0 yds |
| 17 (5) | 597 | 624 | +27 yds |
| 18 (4) | 457 | 462 | +5 yds |
| In (35) | 3,691 | 3,761 | +70 yds |
| Total (70) | 7,316 | 7,448 | +132 yds |
One more thing the length figure hides: the PGA TOUR reports that 17 of the 50 players in the field played the 2018 PGA Championship here, leaving 33 who have never seen Bellerive in competition. Rees Jones rebuilt every green in the interim with T-1 bentgrass, completely wiping out historical green-reading notes.
When and Where Is the BMW Championship 2026?
The BMW Championship 2026 is contested 20 to 23 August 2026 at Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Missouri (St. Louis County). The tournament features a $20 million purse with $3.6 million and 750 FedExCup points awarded to the winner.
Is the FedExCup Worth $23 Million or $10 Million?
Both figures are real, but they represent two entirely different mechanisms:
- Standings Bonus Pool (~$100M): Fully distributed after the BMW Championship based on points accumulated through Sunday at Bellerive, with roughly $23 million going to the season-long points leader.
- Tour Championship Purse ($40M): A standalone official money tournament offering $10 million to the winner at East Lake, where all 30 qualifiers start at even par.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis?
Bellerive is located in Town and Country, Missouri, an affluent suburb in St. Louis County roughly 16 miles west of the Gateway Arch.
Does winning the BMW Championship win the FedExCup?
No. The FedExCup champion is whoever wins the TOUR Championship at East Lake (August 27–30, 2026), taking home $10 million. All 30 players start East Lake at even par.
How much is the 2026 BMW Championship purse?
The BMW Championship carries a $20 million purse with $3.6 million to the winner, alongside 750 FedExCup points.
When did Bellerive last host a PGA TOUR event?
Bellerive hosted the 2018 PGA Championship (won by Brooks Koepka at 16-under 264) and previously staged the 2008 BMW Championship (won by Camilo Villegas).
Why is the BMW Championship field limited to 50 players?
The FedExCup Playoffs feature a progressive cut: 70 players at Southwind, 50 at Bellerive, and 30 at East Lake, with no 36-hole cuts across any playoff event.
The Raw Take
Headline yardage numbers obscure architectural nuance. Bellerive's 132-yard expansion isn't an invitation for longer drives—it's a targeted demand for mid-to-long iron precision into brand-new, firm T-1 bentgrass surfaces. In the final points-paying week of the season, iron play will decide who punches their ticket to Atlanta.