2026 BMW Championship: J.J. Spaun gains separation in St. Louis with front nine 30

ST. LOUIS — J.J. Spaun's front-nine 30 helped break up a five-way tie atop the leaderboard at Bellerive Country Club.

As the morning turned to afternoon at the sun-soaked BMW Championship, the 2025 U.S. Open winner made the turn at 11 under on the tournament without a blemish on the card through half of his second round on Friday.

Like first-round co-leader Gary Woodland, Spaun was mistake-free through 17 holes on Thursday only to bogey the final par-4 18th.

Something about the front nine suits Spaun. He recorded three consecutive birdies before making the turn in his first round. On Friday, he did one better — circling four straight holes, Nos. 3 through 6.

Rory McIlroy and Chris Gotterup also grabbed a share of that lead Thursday and are still on the course. Woodland birdied his first hole and Wyndham Clark — the final of the five co-leaders — is set to tee off 2:33 p.m. ET.

No pairings have made it into the clubhouse.

• Golf Channel Staff,

• Golf Channel Staff,