Why Did Sepp Straka Withdraw From BMW Championship Amid Ryder Cup Push?
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
With less than 50 days until this year's Ryder Cup showdown at Bethpage Black, the pressure is mounting, and nowhere is that tension more visible than in this week's BMW Championship.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 06: Sepp Straka of Austria walks down the fairway during the pro-am prior to the FedEx St. Jude Championship 2025 at TPC Southwind on August 06, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo...
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 06: Sepp Straka of Austria walks down the fairway during the pro-am prior to the FedEx St. Jude Championship 2025 at TPC Southwind on August 06, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by) More
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The BMW Championship, beginning Aug. 14 at Caves Valley Golf Club, is the final chance for players to lock in their Ryder Cup spots. For those hovering around the top 8 or 10 in the standings, every shot counts.
Unfortunately for Sepp Straka, the week took an unexpected turn.
On Monday, Straka's manager, Butler Melnyk, announced that the Austrian star would withdraw from the BMW Championship due to a private family matter.
"For personal reasons, Sepp is unable to play this week," Melnyk stated in a statement shared by PGA Tour Communications on X. "He intends to compete at the TOUR Championship, but requests privacy at this time as he attends to a family matter at home."
Sepp Straka WD from the BMW Championship due to a private family matter.
Statement from Straka's manager Butler Melnyk: 'For personal reasons, Sepp is unable to play this week. He intends to compete at the TOUR Championship, but requests privacy at this time as he attends to a… — PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) August 11, 2025
The 32-year-old pro entered the FedExCup Playoffs ranked No. 3 in points after a standout season that included wins at The American Express and the Truist Championship.
His recent performance at the TPC Southwind, though, was a drop. He finished T17 at last week's FedEx St. Jude Championship, dropping to No. 5 in the FedExCup standings.
If we calculate his Ryder Cup qualification chances, he's mathematically safe for the captain's pick, but the automatic Ryder Cup status is less secure.
Straka currently sits sixth in the European Ryder Cup standings with 1,264.27 points, just ahead of Shane Lowry and Rasmus Højgaard. A strong showing at the BMW could have solidified his automatic qualification, but his absence opens the door for others to leapfrog him.
Still, Straka remains a likely captain's pick for Luke Donald, given his top-10 Official World Golf Ranking and 13 top-25 finishes this season.
That said, the BMW Championship will now feature a 49-player field, with no alternates allowed in the FedExCup Playoffs.
Scottie Scheffler has already clinched the top spot with $5 million bonus, but Straka's current position could still earn him a $1.45 million payout, unless he slips to 10th, which would reduce that bonus to $515,000.
Regardless, Straka plans to tee it up next week at East Lake for the Tour Championship, where all 30 players start from scratch in pursuit of the $10 million FedExCup title.
More Golf: Why Justin Rose Tipped Cap To Phil Mickelson After FedEx Cup Playoff Win
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