Why did Robert MacIntyre WD from the BMW championship?

Scottish golfer Robert MacIntyre has withdrawn from the BMW Championship after the third round. He and Hideki Matsuyama are the two players unable to finish at Castle Pines Golf Club so far.

MacIntyre's withdrawal from the event was due to a lower back injury. The PGA Tour Communications account broke the news on X with the following text:

"Robert MacIntyre (lower back) is a WD during the third round of the BMW Championship."

Subsequently, sports management company "Bounce" posted that MacIntyre's injury occurred in the last five minutes of his warm-up before teeing off:

"Sadly, we have to announce that @robert1lefty has withdrawn from @BMWchamps with a niggling back injury incurred in the last 5 minutes before his tee time in Round 3. He will now receive treatment in the hope of making final event @TOURChamp"

MacIntyre started his third round on schedule but could only play the front nine. He had two bogeys and no birdies.

The Scot played the first round with three birdies, one bogey, and one double bogey (even par). In the second round, he had two birdies and a bogey (1 under for the round and 36 holes). He started the third round tied for 29th.

A day earlier, Matsuyama announced his withdrawal from the tournament, also due to a back injury.

Can Robert MacIntyre play in the TOUR Championship?

The news of MacIntyre's injury has raised questions about his qualification in the TOUR Championship: the season-ending event on the PGA Tour. The Scot is eligible to play at East Lake if he finishes in the top 30. His spot is not secure yet.

MacIntyre is not in the same position as Matsuyama. The Japanese has a guaranteed spot in the TOUR Championship, fitness permitting. Matsuyama owes that peace of mind largely to his victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, which earned him 2,000 ranking points.

MacIntyre started the BMW Championship in 12th place in the FedEx Cup standings, with 1,885 points. There are currently more than 18 players at Castle Pines who could overtake him if they finish well.

The good news for MacIntyre is that more than 10 players in the BMW Championship top 15 are already ahead of him in the FedEx Cup standings.

If these players take up most of the points, the Scot's direct rivals have less chance of unseating him. This gives him a good chance to finish in the top 30 in the FedEx Cup and play next week, health permitting.

A top-30 finish in the FedEx Cup standings would be an extraordinary achievement for MacIntyre. It would give him access to all of the signature events in the 2025 season, as well as two of the four major championships.

It would be a great ending to MacIntyre's rookie season, which also saw him win two tournaments, including his homeland national open championship, the Scottish Open.